An Embedded article by Nitin Dahad
Silicon Labs has this week launched two new systems on chips (SoC)s incorporating Bluetooth LE (BLE) and sub-GHz FSK connectivity to the Amazon Sidewalk network, to address both device provisioning and nearby connectivity as well as long-range connectivity of up to a mile. In conjunction with the new devices, it has also introduced a 12-step Amazon Sidewalk developer journey to help provide expert direction in the development of new devices for the network.
The new SG23 and SG28 SoCs are a new family of devices optimized for Amazon Sidewalk, announced at the fourth annual Silicon Labs Works With developer conference this week. Separately, Silicon Labs also announced its new Series 3 platform designed specifically for accelerating AI/ML workloads in embedded IoT applications (see “New Silicon Labs Platform Chases Big AI/ML Compute Gain”).
Amazon Sidewalk is built on an architecture comprising of a radio, network, and application layers. The always-on, community driven network uses three different RF protocols: Bluetooth LE for device provisioning and nearby device connectivity, sub-GHz FSK for connectivity up to one mile, and a proprietary CSS radio for extreme long-range. Most Amazon Sidewalk end-devices will support Bluetooth LE and one of the two long-range protocols: FSK or CSS.
Amazon Sidewalk Applications Ideas
Figure 3: CUI's CFM-6025V-131-167 performance graph
The Silicon Labs SG28 includes two dual-band SoCs with radios for both sub-GHz FSK as well as Bluetooth LE. For device makers, the SG28 dual-band parts help simplify their devices and reduce cost by including the two most used radios on Sidewalk end-devices in one package, while the SG23 provides security and a robust sub-GHz link budget for long-range, end-node devices.
The Amazon Sidewalk application layer then sits on top of both the network layer and Bluetooth LE stack providing an easy way for customers to use the available protocols. All Amazon Sidewalk devices must connect to the cloud using AWS loT Core for Amazon Sidewalk.
Silicon Labs’ senior vice president of home and life IoT said, “Amazon Sidewalk brings many unique features for device developers, along with several unique requirements. By working closely with Amazon, we’ve been a leader in arming developers with the hardware, software, and development tools they need to navigate the Amazon Sidewalk development process.”
Since Amazon Sidewalk only opened for developers in March 2023, developers are probably not completely familiar with how to create devices for it. So Silicon Labs said it created what it calls the ‘Amazon Sidewalk Developer’s Journey’.
Across 12 steps organized in three stages, this journey guides developers through the complete process, from determining if their targeted region has Amazon Sidewalk coverage, all the way through device deployment and ongoing support for devices in the field. Throughout, the steps are explained through technical documentation, videos, and code samples, with the option to engage a Silicon Labs expert for support. Silicon Labs provides all the tools needed for each step, and by following the developers journey, device makers can be better positioned for Amazon Web Services and Amazon Sidewalk certification and approval.
The new SG23 and SG28 devices are part of Silicon Labs’ strategy of delivering to specific technologies and protocols for IoT, since there is no one-size fits all approach to choosing the right development platform for a device. For example, it has different device families and derivatives for different parts, like the BG line of Bluetooth SoCs and the ZG line of Z-Wave SoCs; and now, it has the SG family of SoCs optimized for Amazon Sidewalk.
The new SoCs are generally available today through Silicon Labs and its distribution partners.
