The Wio Terminal is an all-in-one development platform designed to streamline the prototyping and development of IoT (Internet of Things) projects, embedded systems, and other electronic applications. Here’s an in-depth look at what the Wio Terminal offers:
Overview
The Wio Terminal integrates several key components into a single, compact device, making it an ideal choice for developers, makers, and hobbyists:
- Microcontroller: Powered by the nRF52832 SoC (System on Chip), which features an ARM Cortex-M4F processor at 64 MHz, offering good performance with low power consumption.
- Display: A 2.4-inch touch LCD display with 320×240 resolution, providing a versatile interface for interaction and visualization.
- Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: The nRF52832 supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and the Wio Terminal can be expanded to include Wi-Fi functionality through additional modules.
- Grove Connectors: Multiple Grove ports for easy sensor and module integration, reducing the need for soldering or complex wiring.
Key Features
- Development Environment:
- Arduino IDE: Can be programmed using the Arduino IDE with the appropriate board support package.
- MicroPython: Supports MicroPython for Python enthusiasts.
- Hardware Features:
- Wireless Connectivity: Built-in Bluetooth 5.0, with options for Wi-Fi through additional modules.
- GPS: Can be equipped with a GPS module for location tracking.
- Accelerometer and Gyroscope: For motion detection and orientation.
- Light and Infrared Sensors: Useful for ambient light detection and proximity sensing.
- MicroSD Card Slot: For data storage and logging.
- USB Type-C Port: For programming, power supply, and data transfer.
- RTC (Real-Time Clock): Keeps track of time even when powered off.
- Input/Output:
- Buttons: Three physical buttons for user input.
- Joystick: A miniature joystick for navigation and control.
- Microphone: For audio input capabilities.
- Speaker: For audio output, allowing for sound generation and alerts.
- Expandability:
- Grove System: Over 300 Grove modules can be connected, covering a wide range of sensors and actuators.
- SPI, I2C, UART: Provides various interfaces for communication with external devices.
- Power Management:
- Designed with power efficiency in mind, suitable for battery-powered applications.
Applications
- Prototyping: An excellent platform for rapid prototyping due to its integrated display, sensors, and connectivity options.
- IoT Projects: Ideal for building IoT devices, from smart home solutions to industrial monitoring systems.
- Education: Great for educational purposes to teach electronics, programming, and IoT concepts.
- Data Logging: With its microSD slot and sensors, it can be used for data logging and analysis in various fields.
- Wearable Devices: Can be integrated into wearable tech projects with its compact size and battery support.
Benefits
- All-in-One: Reduces the need for multiple components, making it cost-effective and reducing the complexity of projects.
- Ease of Use: The Grove system and pre-installed firmware make it beginner-friendly.
- Versatility: Capable of handling a wide range of applications from simple projects to complex systems.
- Community and Ecosystem: Supported by a large community, with plenty of tutorials, examples, and support available.
Usage and Development
- Setup:
- Install the necessary drivers and board support packages in your Arduino IDE or set up MicroPython.
- Connect the Wio Terminal via USB-C for programming.
- Programming:
- Write code to interact with the onboard sensors, display, and peripherals using the appropriate libraries or frameworks.
- Expansion:
- Add Grove modules or external devices via the available interfaces to extend functionality.
- Deployment:
- Use the Wio Terminal in your project, either standalone or as part of a larger system, ensuring proper power management for battery life.
Wio Terminal is an ATSAMD51-based microcontroller with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Wireless connectivity powered by Realtek RTL8720DN, compatible with Arduino and MicroPython. Currently, wireless connectivity is only supported by Arduino. More than just a single embedded functional module, Wio Terminal itself is integrated with a 2.4” LCD Screen, onboard IMU(LIS3DHTR), microphone, buzzer, microSD card slot, light sensor, infrared emitter(IR 940nm).On top of that, it also has two multifunctional Grove ports for Grove Ecosystem and 40 Raspberry pi compatible pin GPIO for more add-ons. All of these practical add-ons are carefully housed in a compact enclosure, making it an efficient and product-ready product. Equipped with Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO, it can be mounted to a Raspberry Pi as a slave device.
Key Features
- Powerful MCU: Microchip ATSAMD51P19 with ARM Cortex-M4F core running at 120MHz
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity: Equipped with Realtek RTL8720DN, dual-band 2.4Ghz / 5Ghz Wi-Fi
- Complete system equipped with Screen + Development Board + Input/Output Interface + Enclosure
- Highly Integrated Design: 2.4” LCD Screen, MCU, IMU, WIFI, BT, and more practical add-ons housed in a compact enclosure with built-in magnets & mounting holes allows you to easily set up your IoT project
- Raspberry Pi 40-pin Compatible GPIO enables installation as a peripheral to the Raspberry Pi
- External onboard multi-functional Grove ports: Compatible with over 300 Plug&Play Grove modules to explore with IoT
- USB OTG Support： can act as a USB host (reads data or signals from a mouse, keyboard, MIDI device, 3D printer, etc.) or USB client (emulates a mouse, keyboard, or MIDI device to a host PC).
- Support Arduino, CircuitPython, Micropython, ArduPy(What is ArduPy?), AT Firmware, Visual Studio Code
- Azure Certified Device: Sense and tag real-world data and visualize through Azure IoT Central
- TELEC certificated
Description
The Wio (Wireless Input and Output) platform (Wio Link, Wio Nodes, etc.) was first introduced to the world at the end of 2015 by Seeed.
Meet our new member: Wio Terminal is compatible with Arduino and Micropython, built with an ATSAMD51 microcontroller with wireless connectivity supported by Realtek RTL8720DN. Its CPU speed runs at 120MHz (Boost up to 200MHz). Realtek RTL8720DN chip supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi providing the backbone for IoT projects. The Wio Terminal is Highly Integrated with a 2.4” LCD Screen, there is an onboard IMU(LIS3DHTR), microphone, buzzer, microSD card slot, light sensor, and infrared emitter(IR 940nm).
There are built-in magnets and two mounting holes on the well-designed enclosure, allowing you to set up your IoT project without hassle.
On top of that, it also has two multifunctional Grove ports for connecting with over 300 modules and Raspberry Pi 40-pin compatible GPIO for tons of Pi HAT add-ons, which means there are endless IoT possibilities you can create with this tiny device!
With Wio Terminal, you can:
- Sense and tag the Real-World data with over 300 Groves created by Seeed and visualize through Azure IoT Central Platform to create an end-to-end IoT project
- Use 100% open-source Hardware in a pythonic way
- Build your program interpreter starting from 90% with an LCD screen and compact enclosure
- Create embedded GUI with easy-to-use graphical elements and beautiful visualized editing tools.
Conclusion
The Wio Terminal stands out as a versatile, all-in-one solution for IoT and embedded system development. Its integration of multiple functionalities in a single device, combined with an easy-to-use development environment, makes it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned developers looking to quickly prototype and bring their ideas to life.