Easily Enable Cloud Connectivity with u-blox AWS IoT ExpressLink Solutions
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
It is inevitable that any Internet of things (IoT) device you design will eventually need to be connected to the cloud. Regardless of whether an IoT device is an asset tracker, smart thermostat, or agricultural sensor, its data will require storage where it can be processed and made ready for use. However, the process of connecting devices to the cloud can prove to be a complicated task. Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading cloud hosting provider that enables simple and scalable hosting applications, offers the AWS IoT ExpressLink to simplify connectivity to the cloud. A range of suppliers have developed modules that are compatible with AWS IoT ExpressLink to make achieving connectivity and security even simpler. Due to their extensive experience in positioning and wireless communication technologies, u-blox’s AWS IoT ExpressLink modules are an excellent choice for configuring, provisioning, and connecting devices to the cloud.
The Challenges of Integrating Cloud Connectivity
Connecting devices to the cloud is inherently a difficult task for many designers. Controlling connectivity on devices requires installing and running specialized software, which necessitates a great deal of resources to support the extra code needed to enable cloud connectivity. Dedicated connectivity software typically oversees device provisioning, the complex and important background that gets a device ready to securely connect to a cloud platform.
Normally, device provisioning involves installing unique client certificates like the X.509 certificate for TLS-based mutual authentication and a public key that is linked with a private key on the IoT device. It's a complicated process but nonetheless, an important stage in ensuring security.
Proper device provisioning software integration involves combining thousands of new code lines with the application code–posing a whole new set of challenges, as this calls for advanced designer experience with networking and cryptography.
Eliminate Cloud Complexity with AWS IoT ExpressLink
Amazon has introduced a convenient way for designers to connect devices to the AWS Cloud through AWS IoT ExpressLink (Figure 1). AWS IoT ExpressLink includes a range of modules from select suppliers that are integrated with software fulfilling AWS-specified security criteria to enable quick and simple cloud connection. Additionally, AWS IoT ExpressLink modules only need to send a small number of commands to connect to the cloud since the software uses a condensed command set. As a result, the numerous laborious procedures associated with provisioning, configuring, and connecting devices to the cloud are avoided by designers who use these modules.
AWS IoT ExpressLink modules also provide enough processing and storage capacity to house all the required code, including the application. Already pre-provisioned to the AWS IoT Core, the modules connect quickly and securely right out of the box. The combined aforementioned features enable ease of integration with AWS Cloud services and faster time-to-market for developers. AWS IoT ExpressLink modules are an ideal solution for small to medium-sized customers looking to introduce their latest cloud-enabled product.
u-blox AWS IoT ExpressLink Modules
u-blox, a global technology leader in positioning and wireless communication in the automotive, industrial, healthcare, and consumer markets currently offers two AWS IoT ExpressLink modules.
NORA-W2 AWS IoT ExpressLink Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy 5 Module
Integrating a next-generation 32-bit, dual core microcontroller unit (MCU), the NORA-W2 series from u-blox is a series of standalone radio modules that supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5. The NORA-W2 series incorporates embedded AWS IoT ExpressLink software and has several advanced memory features:
- AWS IoT ExpressLink with pre-provisioned AWS connectivity
- Easy integration with high-level commands
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth® Low Energy 5
- Enhanced security features
- Small footprint and multiple antenna options
- Global certification
SARA-R510AWS IoT ExpressLink LTE-M Module
The SARA-R510AWS from u-blox is designed to directly access AWS IoT Services securely over LTE-M. Based on their UBX-R5 cellular chipset, the SARA-R510AWS is an ideal solution for convenient IoT device development and features:
- Built-in Secure Cloud functionality with hardware-based root of trust inside discrete secure element
- Optimized ultra-low power consumption
- Cost-effective, power efficient, end-to-end IoT communication with MQTT Anywhere and MQTT Flex
u-blox AWS IoT ExpressLink Evaluation Kits
The USB-NORA-W256AWS is a compact USB dongle, based on the NORA-W2 module, that enables easy integration of long-range, low-power, and secure communication capabilities. The USB-NORA-W256AWS empowers developers to easily create innovative and reliable IoT solutions with its “out of the box” connectivity with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The u-blox AWS IoT ExpressLink EVK provides reliable connectivity for IoT devices in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.
u-blox additionally offers the EVK-R510AWS-01 that’s designed to help developers easily test and evaluate the capabilities of their SARA-R510AWS-01B cellular module. Based on u-blox's UBX-R5 cellular chipset, the EVK-R510AWS-01 is a 5G-ready, LTE-M module with integrated SIM and bundled connectivity. The EVK-R510AWS-01 features:
- Integrated SIM with various connectivity plans
- No need for external SIM, SIM holder, or related components
- Enhanced robustness and reliability
- Cost-effective, power efficient, reduced total solution footprint
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
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