From coffee makers to thermostats to irrigation systems, PIC microcontrollers (MCU) are at the heart of millions of embedded applications. As developers migrate next-generation PIC MCU-based applications to the cloud, they currently must overcome complexities associated with communications protocols, security and hardware compatibility. To accelerate the development of these applications, Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced a new Internet of Things (IoT) rapid development board for Google Cloud IoT Core that combines a low-power PIC^® microcontroller (MCU), CryptoAuthentication™ secure element IC and fully certified Wi-Fi^® network controller. The solution provides a simple way to connect and secure PIC MCU-based applications, removing the added time, cost and security vulnerabilities that come with large software frameworks and Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS). Once connected, Google Cloud IoT Core provides powerful data and analytics to help designers make better, smarter products.

As part of Microchip’s extended partnership with Google Cloud, the PIC-IoT WG Development Board enables PIC MCU designers to easily add cloud connectivity to next-generation products using a free online portal at www.PIC-IoT.com. Once connected, developers can use Microchip’s MPLAB^® Code Configurator (MCC) rapid development tool to develop, debug and customize their application. The board combines smart, connected and secure devices to enable designers to create connected applications in minutes, including:

eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) PICMCU with integrated Core Independent Peripherals: Ideal for battery-operated, real-time sensing and control applications, the PIC24FJ128GA705 MCU provides the simplicity of the PIC architecture with added memory and advanced analog integration. With the latest Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) designed to handle complex applications with less code and decreased power consumption, the device provides the ideal combination of performance with extremely low power consumption.
Secure element to protect the root of trust in hardware: The ATECC608A CryptoAuthentication device provides a trusted and protected identity for each device that can be securely authenticated. ATECC608A devices come pre-registered on Google Cloud IoT Core and are ready for use with zero-touch provisioning.
Wi-Fi connectivity to Google Cloud: The ATWINC1510 is an industrial-grade, fully certified IEEE 802.11 b/g/n IoT network controller that provides an easy connection to an MCU of choice via a flexible SPI interface. The module relieves designers from needing expertise in networking protocols.

“Microchip continues to introduce new rapid development tools that enable PIC MCU designers to meet changing application requirements and create differentiated products,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s 8- and 16-bit MCU business units. “As designers add cloud connectivity and migrate their applications to the Internet of Things (IoT), our PIC-IoT WG development board provides a simplified development process to bring designs to market quickly.”

Google Cloud IoT Core provides a fully managed service that enables designers to easily and securely connect, manage and ingest data from devices at a global scale. The platform collects, processes and analyzes data in real time to enable designers to improve operational efficiency in embedded designs.

“The PIC-IoT WG development board provides Google Cloud IoT customers another option to accelerate the development of cloud-connected applications, without compromising on security,” said Antony Passemard, Head of Product Management for Google Cloud IoT. “Combined with Google Cloud Platform’s network infrastructure and Google’s IoT services, the simplicity of the board makes powerful analytics tools and unique machine learning capabilities accessible to anyone.”

The PIC-IoT WG development board joins the recently announced AVR-IoT WG development board, giving designers the flexibility to easily create cloud-connected applications with their preferred MCU architecture.