Tag: industrial

  • Tri-Radio Power: Why the u-blox MAYA-W4 Is the Future of IoT Connectivity

    From smart homes to factories and hospitals, the demand for smaller, smarter, and more reliable wireless connectivity is growing rapidly. Modern IoT devices must run on minimal power, resist interference, and seamlessly communicate across multiple protocols. The u-blox MAYA-W4 tri-radio module was designed for this challenge, delivering robust, versatile, and future-ready connectivity in a compact form factor.

    The New Complexity of Wireless

    Today’s IoT environment is crowded and unforgiving. Engineers must balance:

    • Multiple radios in limited space
    • Robust security for sensitive applications
    • Energy efficiency without sacrificing responsiveness

    Different industries highlight these needs:

    • Building automation demands fast, cross-protocol responsiveness.
    • Healthcare requires ultra-secure, low-power wireless for critical monitoring.
    • Industrial systems rely on high-speed Wi-Fi 6 for data transfers, while Bluetooth® Low Energy powers low-power sensors and controls.
    • Energy and grid systems benefit from 802.15.4 mesh networks for reliability and scale.

    The reality is clear: one-size-fits-all wireless no longer works.

    The u-blox Answer: MAYA-W4

    Enter the MAYA-W4 tri-radio family, designed to consolidate three poweThe MAYA-W4 tri-radio family consolidates three powerful standards into a single, streamlined module:

    • Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 → High speed, bandwidth, and low latency
    • Bluetooth® LE 5.4 → Secure, energy-efficient peripheral connections
    • 802.15.4 → Reliable mesh and low-latency communication

    Built on the NXP IW610 platform, these modules integrate with host processors via SDIO, UART, SPI, or USB, offering unmatched design flexibility.

    By merging multiple radios into one compact footprint, the MAYA-W4 helps engineers:

    • Reduce PCB size
    • Simplify development
    • Future-proof devices for mixed-network environments

    For rapid prototyping, the EVK-MAYA-W476 evaluation kit and NXP FRDM i.MX 91 board provide access to all interfaces with detailed documentation.

    Built to Endure

    Connectivity is only valuable if it endures real-world conditions. The MAYA-W4 modules are:

    • Industrial-grade, operating from -40°C to +85°C
    • Pre-certified across major global regions, reducing time and certification costs
    • Available with flexible antenna options, including PCB-integrated solutions

    This combination ensures devices are resilient, compliant, and deployment-ready.

    The Bigger Picture

    The MAYA-W4 tri-radio architecture reduces network congestion, boosts efficiency, and ensures consistent performance across diverse IoT ecosystems.

    As IoT networks become denser, more connected, and more mission-critical, companies that invest in compact, secure, and versatile wireless modules will stay ahead.

    With the u-blox MAYA-W4 tri-radio series, IoT devices don’t just connect—they adapt, scale, and endure.

  • Allegro ACS3704x: Smarter Current Sensing for Industrial Automation

    In industrial automation, precision isn’t optional—it’s essential. From controlling high-speed motors to managing energy flow across complex systems, accurate current measurement keeps everything running safely and efficiently. Traditional solutions have done the job for years, but today’s factories demand more. That’s where Allegro’s ACS3704x magnetic current sensors step in, delivering a smarter and safer way to measure current in tough environments.

    The Limits of Traditional Current Sensing

    For decades, engineers relied on shunt resistors paired with isolation amplifiers. While proven, these setups come with drawbacks:

    • Energy loss & heat – High ohmic shunts waste power and generate heat.
    • Limited bandwidth – Not ideal for high-frequency applications like motor drives.
    • Complex design – Adding galvanic isolation and heat management increases cost and complexity.

    As automation pushes for higher efficiency and accuracy, these limitations become bottlenecks.

    Allegro’s Smarter Current-Sensing Solution: ACS3704x Series

    The ACS3704x series from Allegro offers a smarter, more efficient approach to current sensing using advanced Hall-effect technology. Unlike traditional solutions, it can sense the magnetic field around a conductor without breaking the circuit or adding bulky, power-hungry components. This innovative design delivers galvanic isolation for safe separation between high-voltage systems and low-voltage electronics, high-speed performance up to 150 kHz for fast-switching motor drives and power converters, and energy-efficient operation with integrated conductors as low as 1.6 mΩ to minimize power loss. Housed in compact, rugged packages, the ACS3704x series is built to withstand harsh industrial and automotive environments, making it the ideal choice for reliable, precise, and efficient current sensing in modern electronics.

    Designed for Modern Engineers

    The ACS3704x magnetic current sensors provide analog voltage outputs directly proportional to current, eliminating external shunts. Differential sensing improves immunity to external magnetic noise, while evaluation boards like the Allegro ACSEVB-LH5 Bare and the MIKROE-6632 add-on module make testing easy.

    Key specs include:

    • Bidirectional sensing up to 30A
    • 150kHz analog output for precision in dynamic applications
    • Compact SOT23-W package, UL-certified for safety

    These features make the ACS3704x a strong fit for motor control, battery management, and high-voltage power supplies.