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STMicroelectronics - Beyond the Wires: Exploring Bluetooth and LoRaWAN Connectivity

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STMicroelectronics 2024 23 of fertilization. It can also reduce their use of antibiotics by allowing a targeted approach that contrasts with practices that preemptively add the drugs to food provided for all cattle. The STM32WL integrates a multiprotocol radio with a 32-bit Arm ® Cortex ® -M microcontroller (MCU) to host the application, which contributes to achieving an extremely robust sensor able to withstand its operating environment. The radio complies with the LoRaWAN ® physical layer requirements specified by the LoRa Alliance ® , also supporting Sigfox™, WM-BUS, mioty ® , and other protocols. The associated STM32CubeWL software package provides resources, including LoRaWAN and Sigfox stacks, low-layer APIs, and sample application code. In another application, these long-range wireless MCUs are helping smart, connected rubber-tree-tapping robots in Asia to detect the right conditions for collecting sap, thus preserving the condition of the harvest and the tree. ST helped redesign the robots' existing radio communication subsystem, which had been found to be vulnerable to interference by other signals in the local area. LoRa modulation is highly resistant to interference yet operates in a license-free sub-1GHz frequency band available anywhere in the world. LoRa networks are also established worldwide and accessible through locally appointed service providers at a reasonable cost per connection. One further characteristic of the STM32WL, valuable in smart farming applications, is the low-power MCU technologies that allow sensors to operate for long periods from a minimal energy supply. This could be a single- cell battery or, in the case of the Silvanet wildfire sensors created by ST customer Dryad, an energy harvesting system like a small solar panel. Silvanet sensors can be installed in remote locations where there is no convenient power infrastructure and can operate maintenance-free for up to about 15 years. Arrays of these sensors, connected using LoRa wireless, provide an early warning of forest fires and help minimize their effects, which can be catastrophic in so many ways, including the destruction of wildlife, animal habitats, economic assets, and farmland. Developing with Wireless MCUs The STM32WL portfolio provides flexible options to help product developers accelerate time to market, optimize the engineering and per-unit costs of their products, and support scalability in the future. The STM32WL5M module is a 10mm × 10mm system-in-package (SiP) that contains an STM32WL5 wireless MCU with frequency-control crystals, an ST IPD intelligent passive device containing RF matching filters needed to connect the antenna, and a transmit/receive switch already integrated. It comes ready to use, pre-certified for connection to LoRaWAN and Sigfox networks, and supported in the STM32CubeMX ecosystem. Users can also optionally select the STSAFE-A110 secure element, a drop-in authentication solution powered by a state-of-the-art secure MCU with cryptographic accelerators, secure key storage, and ready for pre-loading with Sigfox or LoRaWAN LPWAN security credentials. Sensor Integration The STEVAL-ASTRA1B reference design, built around the STM32WL5 SoC, provides a fast and simple way to build complete wireless sensors suitable for smart

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