u-blox, a developer of positioning and short-range communication technologies, has introduced two Wi-Fi 6 module families intended to simplify the addition of secure wireless connectivity to industrial and consumer IoT devices. The MAYA-W5 and NORA-W5 modules combine Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth Low Energy and are designed for applications ranging from smart buildings and industrial automation to connected healthcare and asset tracking.

Both module families are based on Texas Instruments chipsets and are designed and manufactured in Europe. u-blox developed the modules to offer equipment manufacturers an alternative to chip-level wireless designs, potentially reducing integration work and accelerating product development. Internal- and external-antenna versions will be offered, while form-factor compatibility within the existing MAYA and NORA portfolios is intended to support product migration and longer-term design planning.

Electronics Industry Monthly image of the u-blox MAYA-W5 and NORA-W5 Wi-Fi 6 modules for industrial and consumer IoT devices.

The u-blox MAYA-W5 and NORA-W5 module families combine Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity for smart buildings, industrial automation, connected healthcare, asset tracking and other IoT applications.

MAYA-W5 is a host-based, dual-band module built around the Texas Instruments CC3351 chipset. Wi-Fi connectivity is provided through an SDIO interface, with Bluetooth connectivity supported through UART. This architecture allows the module to operate with a separate application processor in products where system control and application processing are already handled by a host device.

NORA-W5 provides a stand-alone architecture based on the Texas Instruments CC35x1E series. The module incorporates an Arm Cortex-M33 microcontroller, flexible memory options and support for the u-blox u-connectXpress software platform. Its onboard processing capabilities are intended to allow developers to add Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity without requiring a separate host processor for all applications.

“From smart buildings to industrial automation, engineers need Wi-Fi 6 that delivers reliable, seamless connectivity right from the start. By integrating TI’s CC3351 and CC3551 Wi-Fi devices into their NORA-W5 and MAYA-W5 modules, u-blox is giving engineers the tools to accelerate their designs and bring production-ready products to market faster. Seeing our chipsets at the heart of these modules is a testament to what’s possible when the right technology partnerships come together to push IoT forward,” said Shmulik Elgavi, Wi-Fi Connectivity Product Line Manager at Texas Instruments.

Combining the two wireless standards within compact, pre-engineered modules can help manufacturers limit the number of external components required for connected products. Global certifications and industrial-grade designs are also intended to reduce some of the engineering and certification work involved in deploying the same product across multiple regions.

About u-blox

Founded in 1997 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, or ETH Zurich, u-blox grew out of research into miniaturized GPS receiver technology. Its first commercial GPS product was developed in 1998 and used in Switzerland’s distance-related heavy-vehicle charging system. Headquartered in Thalwil, Switzerland, u-blox develops semiconductor chips, modules, software and services that enable positioning and wireless communication across automotive, industrial and consumer markets. For more information, please click here.

Source/Photo Credit: u-blox

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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin
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