The design helps send data from sensors to the cloud using power and range signals. It works for buildings, tracking, and systems.
Texas Instruments’ TIDEP0084 reference design helps connect sensors to the cloud using a Sub-1 GHz wireless network. It supports long-range communication and is suitable for industrial applications like building security, asset tracking, HVAC systems, and door/window sensor networks. The design uses a Sitara AM335x processor as the gateway and SimpleLink ultra-low-power (ULP) wireless MCUs for the sensor nodes. The system connects to cloud services such as AWS IoT (via stackArmor) and can be adapted for other cloud platforms like IBM Cloud.
The gateway runs on a BeagleBone Black development board with the Sitara AM335x processor and uses the element14 Wireless Cape for Sub-1 GHz communication. The Sub-1 GHz sensor nodes use the TI 15.4-Stack protocol and connect to the gateway, which forwards data to the cloud. A web-based dashboard lets users monitor sensor data in real time and send commands remotely from any device with a browser.
The Sitara AM335x processor features an Arm Cortex-A8 core and supports industrial Ethernet protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, and PROFIBUS. It also includes a graphics engine for 3D graphics and runs high-level operating systems like Linux. TI provides free support through its Processor SDK, helping designers get started quickly.
The CC13x0 and CC13x2 wireless MCUs are part of the CC26xx and CC13xx family. These are cost-effective devices designed for ultra-low power operation at 2.4 GHz and Sub-1 GHz. They offer very low active RF and microcontroller current consumption and support flexible low-power modes. This enables long-range communication using small coin-cell batteries or energy harvesting systems, which helps extend battery life for sensor nodes in large networks.
Design engineers can use this reference design to speed up the development of wireless sensor networks that connect to the cloud. It gives them a working example of how to set up a low-power, long-range communication system between sensor nodes and a central gateway. Engineers can use it to explore wireless protocols, test battery-powered sensor performance, and integrate cloud services for real-time monitoring and control. The design also helps them understand how to build scalable systems that support many devices and run efficiently over long distances. With provided design files and software, engineers can adapt the setup to fit different applications, customize it for their needs, and reduce the time and effort required to build a reliable industrial IoT solution.
TI has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and more. The company’s website has additional data about the reference design. To read more about this reference design, click here.