Nordic-powered edge gateway enables mesh networking for enterprise IoT applications

Embedded systems and network solutions provider, SolidRun, has launched the latest gateway solution in its ‘SolidSense’ family of enterprise IoT gateways. The ‘SolidSense N8 Compact’ gateway is designed to service a local network of IoT devices to support asset tracking, smart office, smart city, and lighting management applications. 

Large scale mesh networking

The 150 by 85 by 40 mm SolidSense N8 Compact provides Cloud connectivity for networks of IoT devices based on Nordic nRF52833 SoC-powered Bluetooth® mesh and ‘Wirepas Massive’ – a decentralized large-scale mesh networking solution. In addition to broad connectivity options, the gateway offers expansion add-on cards to support customer-specific requirements, allowing users to create and manage infrastructure for various enterprise IoT applications. 

The gateway provides the connectivity between low power field networks—including Nordic nRF52833 multiprotocol SoC-enabled Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth mesh, and Wirepas Massive—and business applications in the Cloud with local processing capabilities. Wired field bus (CAN, RS485) networking is also available. 

The nRF52833 SoC supports the large-scale, low power Wirepas Massive mesh connectivity software enabling cost-effective, scalable IoT solutions with density, flexibility, and reliability. For example, a network of anchor nodes and up to hundreds of thousands of end-devices could be placed throughout a location and wirelessly linked using the Wirepas Massive connectivity integrated in the Nordic SoC-based modules. Collected sensor data and analytics could then be relayed via Wirepas Massive to the gateway which in turn sends the data to the Cloud using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and/or cellular connectivity. 

Massive IoT

The nRF52833 SoC combines a powerful 64 MHz Arm® Cortex® M4 processor with floating point unit (FPU) with a 2.4 GHz multiprotocol radio. The nRF52833 can power a third-party Bluetooth LE/Bluetooth 5 module with open CPU architecture that is optimized for, and can be supplied preinstalled with, Wirepas Massive. Wirepas Massive has been developed by global software connectivity company, Wirepas, and is designed for a wide array of ‘massive IoT’ applications.

SolidSense N8 Compact runs on an open-source system (Linux or Yocto) enabling customers to develop their full application stack. For customers looking for ready-to-go packages, SolidRun partner SolidSense Connect provides a deployment-ready software stack to send Bluetooth LE or Wirepas data to business applications. SolidSense Connect distributes the full solution with support and consultancy services. 

“Our selection of Nordic nRF52833 SoC-based modules for SolidSense N8 Compact was guided by the native support for Wirepas Massive and Bluetooth mesh, offering flexibility for our customers to develop their applications on the optimal protocol,” says Sasha Strizhiver, Director of Sales, IoT and Embedded Systems, SolidRun. 

• About SolidRun
• About SolidSense Connect
• About nRF52833
• About Nordic Semiconductor