Ever needed several different IoT end nodes for a specialised installation but got held back by minimum order quantities for components. RAKwireless’ WisBlock system made that a thing of the past a year ago…
It’s always great to catch up with Gavin from RAKwireless, so at Hardware Pioneers Max 2024, ipXchange had a chat to see what has become of the innovative WisBlock modular IoT system that he showed us back in 2023.
As Gavin explains, RAKwireless is an IoT solutions provider that mainly focusses on LoRaWAN connectivity, with several wireless modules, gateways, and related technology to offer. The WisBlock system provides many hardware blocks for engineers to build custom IoT end nodes without having to worry about minimum order quantities.
This makes WisBlock perfect for small-to-medium-scale IoT installations where the nodes aren’t necessarily identical. It also allows for you to easily change your designs if you realise you’ve forgotten something and the system is already installed.
WisBlock has a generous range of options for wireless modules, sensors, power solutions, enclosures, and more. This includes more than simply LoRaWAN connectivity and even enables powering a device using a solar cell. At the time we interviewed Gavin, there were over 130 blocks to choose from, and this list is constantly growing!
RAKwireless’ LoRaWAN field tester is a new product in its own right, but it happens to be made entirely using the WisBlock system. This device enables you to plan out your IoT network, and features:
- A capacitive touchscreen block on the outside
- A display driver block
- A LoRaWAN core block
- A baseboard with the power supply and battery
- A GPS block
- An external antenna
In addition to the stock modules, RAKwireless can customise the WisBlock to suit your specific application requirements. This is particularly useful for the enclosures, for example if you need holes for a speaker or microphone. You can also build your own blocks as the WisBlock platform is very open to additional connections.
Learn more about WisBlock by following the link to the board page below, where you can also apply to evaluate this technology for use in your commercial projects. We’d love to see what ideas you’ll come up with.
Keep designing!
Love IoT? Check out these other recent interviews from ipXchange:
A wireless SoC that’s made for ambient IoT!
Exploring Nordic’s new Thingy:91 X IoT platform
Murata’s Matter-ready IoT modules are tiny!
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