TI And Airbee Deliver Free 4-Node ZigBee Solution

Houston -- Helping speed ZigBee and 802.15.4 compliant systems to market, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced the availability of Airbee Wireless' ZNS-Lite, ZigBee-ready networking stack software for the MSP430 platform of ultra-low power microcontrollers (MCUs). Airbee software helps designers and third parties to develop with MSP430 MCUs for ZigBee-based applications that are optimized for low cost, low data rate applications that require long battery life capability, security, high data reliability and product interoperability. By partnering with Airbee, TI provides developers a complete platform that includes a free 4-node Zigbee-ready protocol stack for development and prototyping of mesh based networks.

ZigBee's wireless, standards-based radio technology addresses the needs of remote monitoring, control and sensor network applications including home control and awareness, building automation, industrial automation, asset management and homeland security. ZigBee-based products are expected to reach tens of millions of units per year by 2008, according to Strategy Analytics, a global research and consulting firm. By incorporating Airbee's networking stack, TI will offer designers a complete reference design to enable speedy development of more flexible, interoperable ZigBee-compliant systems.

"We look forward to partnering with TI on this market-leading initiative. Our expertise in building ZigBee-ready products using MSP430 MCUs across multiple module providers will ensure true interoperability," said Raj Sundaresan, chief executive officer, Airbee. "Our ZigBee-ready stack software for peer-to-peer, mesh and star topologies saves precious development time while achieving a higher return on investment for ZigBee networks."

Based on the MSP430F161x MCU with a Chipcon 802.15.4 radio for receiving and transceiving, TI's reference design will also include an example application note and PCB layout files. The software stack includes a "getting started" guide and a programmer's reference manual. A full version of the Airbee ZNS (protocol stack) software can be purchased directly from Airbee.

A hardware evaluation board (DZ1612) is also available from SoftBaugh Inc. with Airbee's ZNS-Lite Zigbee software pre-programmed on an MSP430F1612 MCU and also includes a Chipcon CC2420 transceiver and PCB antenna.

SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated