Dev kit enables mobile and IoT app developers to build wireless demos without developing hardware or firmware

Nordic Semiconductor has introduced the "Nordic Thingy:52", a fully-functional single-board Bluetooth 5-compatible Bluetooth low energy development kit that offers 'out-of-the-box' wireless configuration from smartphone apps and the Cloud. The kit enables an app developer with no firmware coding expertise or high-level development tools to quickly design and demonstrate IoT devices, and associated mobile device and Internet apps. The app developer can quickly and easily configure the development kit's embedded application over the provided Bluetooth interface from a mobile device. The development kit is based on their nRF52832 Bluetooth low energy SoC which combines a 64MHz, 32-bit ARM Cortex M4F microprocessor with a 2.4GHz multiprotocol radio (supporting Bluetooth 5, ANT and proprietary 2.4GHz RF software), plus 512kB Flash memory and 64kB RAM. The nRF52832 SoC runs the company’s S132 SoftDevice, an RF software 'stack' that can support up to 20 concurrent connections in a variety of Bluetooth low energy role combinations. The development platform is also Cloud-platform compatible. For example, a Nordic Thingy:52 fixed to a door could report the door opening to a Cloud platform which then triggers a text to a smartphone. Or it could be commanded to activate connected products such as Philips Hue smart lighting when the Cloud platform registers the home owner's smartphone is near the device’s location. "Nordic Thingy:52 is the ideal development kit for app developers to take advantage of the IoT's potential," says Pär Håkansson, a product marketing manager with Nordic Semiconductor. "And because Nordic Thingy:52 features simple over-the-air configurability from mobile devices or Cloud platforms there is no need for the app developer to go through the lengthy and complex process of learning how to use high-end development tools for firmware coding, debugging, and compilation. "For a modest investment, app developers can start working with Nordic Thingy:52 straight out-of-the-box without needing any expertise beyond their app building skills. That enables a whole new group of highly innovative people to get their hands on a fully-functional, high-end Bluetooth low energy platform and let their imagination run free."