This week's kit is Microchip's PIC-IoT WG Development Board, a 16-bit MCU-based kit that packs more punch than you'd think. While of course the 16-bit PIC24F microcontroller is extremely low power, it also integrates a 12-bit ADC, three comparators, a charge time measurement unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch applications, 128 KB of ECC Flash and 16 KB RAM.

 

You can connect straight to the cloud on this little device thanks to the ATWINC1510 network controller, an 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi device with 8 MB of Flash. This means that wireless connectivity stacks don't need to burden the PIC MCU, or even, some system software can be relegated to the ATWINC1510 because of its SPI interface.

 

Going further to maximize the platform, Microchip included an ATECC608A CryptoAuthentication secure element IC on the board, so that encryption, authentication, and other security tasks can be handled separately from the host processor. And, because the board is out-of-the-box compatible with Google Cloud IoT Core, securely authenticating with backend applications can be done quickly and easily.

 

All of that is available for just $29 from Microchip or major distributors. Or, for free, if you enter the raffle below:

 

 

If you're interested in learning more, visit the PIC-IoT WG webpage at https://www.microchip.com/developmenttools/ProductDetails/AC164164. Or, ask @techielew in the comments section.

 

See you next week...