STMicroelectronics, a leading global semiconductor supplier, is helping to increase industrial productivity and reduce waste and pollution with its intelligent wireless module. Designed for Industry 4.0 applications, this module, the STM32WB5MMGH6, simplifies the use of ST's innovative wireless microcontrollers in powerful use cases such as intelligent condition monitoring of I-care Group equipment.
The module provides a complete subsystem for wireless communication using popular standards such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee and Thread, and comes with free-to-use protocol stacks. Alternatively, developers can use other proprietary protocols if they prefer.
The module integrates several essential components, including the antenna and its corresponding circuitry, all passives, and timing crystals. Pre-certifications for EMC, Bluetooth LE 5.3, Zigbee 3.0, and OpenThread simplify mandatory testing and product-level approval processes for users, which saves development costs and speeds time to market.
Major customers are already incorporating ST's STM32WB5MMGH6 module into future new products. One example is I-care Group, which focuses on machine health and offers continuous monitoring solutions to improve maintenance of industrial equipment to ensure optimal performance and prevent unexpected failures and downtime.
The company's Wi-care sensors are a true wireless plug-and-play, continuous asset monitoring system. When combined with I-see, I-care's AI-driven, cloud-based analytics platform, it provides a complete maintenance 4.0 solution, allowing users to view equipment status and plan maintenance schedules. With I-care solutions, more than 99% of industrial breakdowns can be avoided, machine downtime is reduced by 10-20% and maintenance costs are reduced by 35-45%.
“I-care has the ambition to become a world leader in prescriptive and predictive maintenance,” said Fabrice Brion, CEO of I-care. “The rapid and successful production and deployment of our market-leading Wi-care sensors plays a crucial role in our growth plans. ST’s STM32WB5MMGH6 wireless module provides an indispensable part of Wi-care.”
“Choosing a wireless module over designing a chip-down solution is the fastest way for developers to complete their projects,” added Hakim Jaafar, GM – BLE/802.15.4 MCU, STMicroelectronics. “The STM32WB5MMGH6 module, based on our own STM32WB55 wireless MCU and fully supported by ST, now makes this approach faster, easier and more affordable than ever.”
