ARM Beetle IoT Evaluation Platform

The Beetle test chip implements the ARM® Internet of Things (IoT) Subsystem for Cortex®-M processors which allows design teams to create IoT endpoints faster and with lower risk. The ARM IoT subsystem for ARM Cortex-M processors is optimized for use with ARM’s most efficient processor, mbed™, radio technologies and physical IP.

Beetle Test Chip

The Beetle test chip implements the ARM® Internet of Things (IoT) Subsystem for Cortex®-M processors which allows design teams to create IoT endpoints faster and with lower risk. The ARM IoT subsystem for ARM Cortex-M processors is optimized for use with ARM’s most efficient processor, mbed™, radio technologies and physical IP. The test chip used on the Beetle platform provides partners with a proof of concept vehicle that showcases how designers can rapidly move from Register Transfer Level (RTL) which is a high-level hardware description language used for defining digital circuits to silicon with minimum engineering effort. The central element of the Beetle test-chip is the IoT subsystem, which is pre-validated allowing the user to hit the ground running. We built on the ARM IoT subsystem by attaching the Cortex-M3 processor, ARM’s Cordio BLE 4.2 radio, TSMC embedded flash and a host of other complementary peripherals from 3rd party vendors. This test chip was also built using the ARM Artisan® physical IP platform specifically tailored for IoT applications. The design is fully compliant with ARM’s mbed OS to enable rapid development and prototyping. While Beetle is a proof of concept vehicle it offers a very useful tool to evaluate the ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M.

Technical highlights

• ARM Cortex-M3
• ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M
• CORDIO Bluetooth Smart radio
• Memory
  • 256KB of embedded flash
  • 128KB SRAM
  • 2MB of external QSPI flash.
• Debug
  • JTAG, SWD & 4 bit TRACE
  • CMSIS-DAP with a virtual UART port
• Arduino interface
  • GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C
  • Analog signals

It Enables

Evaluation of the ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M. Development of mbed applications with Bluetooth connectivity. Expansion via Arduino® connectors.

Software Overview

mbed support including the ARM Bluetooth Stack and peripheral drivers. CMSIS-DAP support over USB with drag and drop programming to flash Virtual UART over USB

Reference solution

• Pre-integrated, validated, HW+SW subsystem

• Software stack
  • mbed runs out of the box with the radio
  • Drivers for subsystem in mbed
  • Connected to the mbed Connector

Further information on IoT subsystem for Cortex-M is available here IoT Subsystems for Cortex-M

Information on CORDIO BT radio is available here CORDIO BT Radio

Beetle TC Overview

Beetle Platform Pinout

The Beetle datasheet is available here Beetle IoT Evaluation Platform

You need to log in to post a discussion

Questions

0 answers

Example Applications Miguel Sanchez
7 years, 4 months ago

ARM, Beetle, evaluation, IOT, platform