The IoT is slowly seeing a rise in open source initiatives, and the movement got a big booth with this week’s announcement from Panasonic that it would release its M2M platform code for free to developers. In that spirit, many developers are looking to Linux OS-based solutions. Well, now Gumstix, a provider of Linux computers-on-module (COMs), has released Overo STORM-Y COMs, which integrates the Texas Instruments (TI) WiLink 8 combo connectivity module. Combined, the two enhance M2M communications to provide 802.11b/g/n wifi with access point mode and available Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE.
The new COM can serve simultaneously as client and host for data and data transfer, which is a critical functionality for IoT gateway applications. The STORM-Y COMs use a single-antenna solution for Wi-Fi, making it suited for high-definition audio and video streaming.
"TI's WiLink 8 modules are a great fit for power-optimized designs in a wide range of IoT applications," said Mattias Lange, business line manager, Wireless Connectivity Solutions, TI. "This technology within the Gumstix' Overo Storm-Y COMs enables customers to add Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth connectivity to their designs."
By building on the Linux architecture, the hardware for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth available from Gumstix can now be used by any number of projects that might have had trouble getting compatible, non-proprietary transmission systems like this.
Overo STORM-Y COMs supersede their original Overo counterparts: the basic AirSTORM-Y at $139, DSP-ready FireSTORM-Y at $159 and the extended temperature IronSTORM-Y at $179. Overo STORM-Y series COMs are fully compatible with the existing line of Gumstix Overo expansion boards and offer a significant price reduction as compared to the original Overo STORM series COMs with wireless communications.
"The embedded Access Point on our Overo STORM-Y COMs combined with the customizing power of Geppetto , the most intuitive electronic design tool available, provides Gumstix customers the fastest time to market for IoT gateway applications," said W. Gordon Kruberg, M.D., President and CEO, Gumstix.
Thanks for the hook-up, folks.
Edited by
Dominick Sorrentino
