Second-generation development platform improves on every metric

RS Components now offers the RX72N Envision Kit from Renesas Electronics.

Optimised for HMI development in the IoT, the kit provides a highly sophisticated and integrated platform for developing applications that need a GUI. With a fully integrated WQVGA LCD with capacitive touch-sensing, developers can swiftly evolve HMIs for IoT applications.

The kit is based on the RX72N 32-bit MCU, the flagship member of the company's RX MCU family. The MCU features their third-generation RX CPU core, the RXv3, which has been created to deliver enhanced performance and faster interrupt response. Hardware accelerators for trigonometric calculations improve the speed of motor control applications, while the integrated TFT LCD controller and 2D drawing engine make extensive usage of the kit's display. Trusted Secure IP provides a cryptography engine to realise AES, RSA, ECC as well as secure key management to guard customers’ important keys and IDs. Moreover, the kit facilitates both wired and wireless network connections required for IoT applications through integrated Ethernet controllers and multiple serial interfaces for wireless module connection.

"The RX72N Envision Kit is a huge step forward for embedded engineers developing IoT applications that are GUI-driven," commented Andrew Hallworth, portfolio manager at RS. "Not only does it provide the hardware platform needed for application development, but it also raises the level of abstraction for software development, making it simpler to develop GUIs and HMIs for deployment across the IoT."

The kit also combines other features, including high-efficiency DC-DC converters, stereo MEMS microphone to support voice recognition, a D2Audio IC, and an LCD backlight driver with complementary light sensor. Comprehensive connectivity is incorporated in the form of Ethernet, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

To better support quicker development cycles, the board also combines an E2 Lite emulator. Support for running two applications is offered by the MCU, thanks to its 4MB dual bank flash memory. It also provides 1MB of SRAM. A microSD card interface and PMOD connectors are also incorporated for further expansion.