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Smallest IoT Boards to Work on This Planet

The IoTs have revolutionized the way we interact with technology. It has transformed simple devices into intelligent machines that can communicate with one another and make our lives easier. With the rise of IoT, the need for small and efficient IoT boards has become increasingly important. In this article, we'll explore some of the smallest IoT boards available on the market, which offer remarkable capabilities despite their size.

IoT boards are the heart of any IoT system, and their small size makes them ideal for use in different applications. In addition, these tiny boards offer immense flexibility and power, from smart homes to industrial automation. So, let's discuss about some of the smallest IoT boards to work on this planet and discover what they offer.

Smallest Iot Boards to Work on This Planet

Arduino Nano 33 IoT

Arduino Nano 33 IoT Board

The Arduino Nano 33 IoT is a small, affordable development board measuring only 45 x 18 mm, combining a powerful microcontroller, wireless communication capabilities, and various sensors. It is designed to provide developers with an easy-to-use platform for building internet-connected projects, ranging from simple data-logging applications to complex IoT systems.

The heart of the Arduino Nano 33 IoT is the SAMD21 microcontroller, based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ architecture. It has a clock speed of about 48 MHz, 256KB of flash memory, and 32KB of SRAM, making it capable of handling complex tasks and running multiple applications simultaneously. Additionally, the board has a u-blox NINA-W10 module, which provides WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing it to communicate with other gadgets over the internet or a local network.

The Arduino Nano 33 IoT also features a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which includes a gyroscope and accelerometer. This sensor enables the board to detect changes in orientation, tilt, and movement, making it suitable for applications that require motion tracking or gesture recognition. Also, the board's crypto chip provides encryption and authentication functions to ensure secure communication. This feature is particularly useful for IoT applications that involve sensitive data or require secure communication channels.

ESP32-SE2-Saola-1

ESP32-SE2-Saola-1 Board

The ESP32-S2-Saola-1 is a powerful and affordable ESP32 IoT module designed for developers and makers requiring wireless connectivity for their projects. It is built around the ESP32-S2 system-on-chip (SoC), which combines the features of the ESP32 with an ultra-low-power 32-bit RISC-V CPU.

The ESP32-S2-Saola-1 supports WiFi and USB OTG, making connecting to the internet or other devices easy. It also features 43 general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, which can be used for various tasks, including driving LEDs, reading sensors, and controlling motors.

In addition to its GPIOs, the ESP32-S2-Saola-1 includes 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), touch sensors, and a temperature sensor. It is an ideal platform for building projects requiring accurate sensing and control.

The ESP32-S2-Saola-1 is compact, measuring just 54 x 25 mm, making it suitable for small devices and wearables. It is also incredibly affordable, with a price point of around $8, making it accessible to makers and developers on a budget.

nRF9160 Feather IoT Development Board

Feather IoT Development Board

The nRF9160 Feather IoT Development Board is a versatile and powerful development board designed to enable developers to prototype and build IoT applications quickly. The board features a Nordic nRF9160 system-in-package, which supports LTE-M, NB-IoT, GPS, and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.

The board has a compact form factor, measuring only 51 x 23 mm, making it easy to integrate into projects with limited space. It features 19 GPIOs, ADCs, PWMs, UARTs, SPIs, and I2Cs, providing developers with various options for interfacing with other devices and sensors. Additionally, the board includes a QSPI flash memory, which provides additional storage space for data and code.

The nRF9160 Feather IoT Development Board supports LTE-M and NB-IoT connectivity. This allows the board to connect to cellular networks, making it suitable for applications requiring long-range communication or in areas with limited WiFi or Ethernet connectivity. The board also supports GPS, enabling developers to add location-based services to their applications.

Arduino MKR 1400 GSM

Arduino MKR 1400 GSM Board

The Arduino MKR 1400 GSM measures only 67 x 25 mm, which makes it one of the smallest boards in the Arduino family. It is a powerful board that combines the functionality of a microcontroller, GSM module, and crypto chip in a compact design. This board is designed to work with 2G and 3G cellular networks, which makes it ideal for IoT projects that require remote communication and data exchange.

The Arduino MKR 1400 GSM features a SAMD21 microcontroller based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ architecture. This microcontroller has 32-bit processing power and a clock speed of 48MHz, which makes it capable of handling complex tasks and running multiple applications simultaneously. The board also includes a u-blox SARA-U201 GSM module, which supports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA+ networks. This module lets the board send and receive SMS messages and data over the cellular network.

The Arduino MKR 1400 GSM also includes a crypto chip, providing hardware-based security features such as secure boot and key storage. This chip ensures that the board is secure from unauthorized access and protects the integrity of the data transmitted over the cellular network. Additionally, the board includes a LiPo battery charger, which allows the board to be powered by a rechargeable LiPo battery.

Pycom GPy

Pycom GPy Board

Pycom GPy is a compact Internet of Things (IoT) development board. It is a powerful device with a wide range of wireless communication capabilities, making it ideal for various IoT applications. The board measures 55 x 20 mm and has an ESP32 system-on-chip, a Sequans Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, a crypto chip, and a LiPo battery connector. It can support a range of wireless protocols, including WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa, Sigfox, LTE-M, and NB-IoT.

The Pycom GPy supports MicroPython, a lean and efficient Python 3 programming language implementation. MicroPython allows developers to write code for the board in Python, a language that is both powerful and easy to learn. This makes it a good tool for prototyping and experimenting with IoT applications.

The Pycom GPy also features a built-in crypto chip, which provides hardware-level security for your applications. This feature is particularly important for IoT devices, which often transmit sensitive data and must be protected from cyber-attacks. The crypto chip provides secure key storage, secure boot, and hardware-accelerated encryption and decryption.

Conclusion

Despite their size, the smallest IoT boards available on the market offer remarkable capabilities. These tiny but powerful boards are ideal for building many IoT projects and can be used in various industries. From smart homes to industrial automation, the small size of these boards makes them versatile and ideal for various applications.

As technology evolves, the demand for smaller and more powerful IoT boards will continue to increase. With the rise of IoT, the potential for these tiny boards is endless. It doesn't matter whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, these small IoT boards can help you create innovative and intelligent devices that can be connected to the internet and communicate with one another.

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