A ready-for-use platform that combines motion sensing with ZigBee wireless technology is available from STMicroelectronics. The ultra-compact MotionBee module boasts low power consumption and is designed to enable system developers to build wireless sensor networks for remote-motion recognition and tracking in many different application areas, including healthcare, security, industrial control and environmental monitoring. The module integrates the company's three-axis digital-output MEMS accelerometer with a ZigBee platform from Ember, which includes the EM250 SoC, a 2.4GHz, an IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio transceiver and processor, together with the EmberZNet PRO ZigBee networking software. The module detects accelerations in the selectable range of ±2g to ±6g and transmits the information to a central connection point using star topology, or to every other node using mesh topology in a ZigBee network. The module is programmable and measures 49x27x5mm, suitable for use in wearable medical or sports equipment, says the company. The first device—the SPMB250-A1—is available now, as is an evaluation kit with two pre-programmed modules and a ZigBee dongle for integration with a PC.
