ARM Beetle IoT Evaluation Platform
The Beetle test chip implements the ARM® Internet of Things (IoT) Subsystem for Cortex®-M processors which allows design teams to create IoT endpoints faster and with lower risk. The ARM IoT subsystem for ARM Cortex-M processors is optimized for use with ARM’s most efficient processor, mbed™, radio technologies and physical IP.
Beetle Test Chip
The Beetle test chip implements the ARM® Internet of Things (IoT) Subsystem for Cortex®-M processors which allows design teams to create IoT endpoints faster and with lower risk. The ARM IoT subsystem for ARM Cortex-M processors is optimized for use with ARM’s most efficient processor, mbed™, radio technologies and physical IP. The test chip used on the Beetle platform provides partners with a proof of concept vehicle that showcases how designers can rapidly move from Register Transfer Level (RTL) which is a high-level hardware description language used for defining digital circuits to silicon with minimum engineering effort. The central element of the Beetle test-chip is the IoT subsystem, which is pre-validated allowing the user to hit the ground running. We built on the ARM IoT subsystem by attaching the Cortex-M3 processor, ARM’s Cordio BLE 4.2 radio, TSMC embedded flash and a host of other complementary peripherals from 3rd party vendors. This test chip was also built using the ARM Artisan® physical IP platform specifically tailored for IoT applications. The design is fully compliant with ARM’s mbed OS to enable rapid development and prototyping. While Beetle is a proof of concept vehicle it offers a very useful tool to evaluate the ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M.
Technical highlights
- ARM Cortex-M3
- ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M
- CORDIO Bluetooth Smart radio
- Memory
- 256KB of embedded flash
- 128KB SRAM
- 2MB of external QSPI flash.
- Debug
- JTAG, SWD & 4 bit TRACE
- CMSIS-DAP with a virtual UART port
- Arduino interface
- GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C
- Analog signals
It Enables
Evaluation of the ARM IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M. Development of mbed applications with Bluetooth connectivity. Expansion via Arduino® connectors.
Software Overview
mbed support including the ARM Bluetooth Stack and peripheral drivers. CMSIS-DAP support over USB with drag and drop programming to flash Virtual UART over USB
Reference solution
- Pre-integrated, validated, HW+SW subsystem
- Software stack
- mbed runs out of the box with the radio
- Drivers for subsystem in mbed
- Connected to the mbed Connector
Further information on IoT subsystem for Cortex-M is available here IoT Subsystems for Cortex-M
Information on CORDIO BT radio is available here CORDIO BT Radio
Beetle TC Overview
Beetle Platform Pinout
The Beetle datasheet is available here Beetle IoT Evaluation Platform