New toolchain and software package from STMicroelectronics ease development of edge processing with intelligent inertial sensors

STMicroelectronics has released a toolchain and accompanying software package for programming the intelligent sensor processing unit (ISPU) embedded in the latest-generation intelligent MEMS IMUs, ISM330IS and LSM6DSO16IS. The toolchain and software help employ the ISPU to handle motion-related workloads such as activity recognition and anomaly detection directly in the sensor. This permits reducing system power and latency, offloading the local microcontroller, and uniquely specializing the behavior of the sensor to the application.

Using the ISPU toolchain, developers can program the sensor’s intelligent processing unit using the familiar and widespread C programming language. They can choose to work from a command line interface (CLI) or an Eclipse-based environment like STM32CubeIDE, and to use a graphical user interface (GUI) such as AlgoBuilder and Unicleo.

The X-CUBE-ISPU software package contains templates and example projects as well as ready-to-use libraries that help developers quickly understand how to use and program the sensors’ ISPU and can be used as a starting point to implement custom algorithms. Pre-built files are also available, which lets users load the X-CUBE-ISPU examples directly into the sensor using one of the GUIs, with no coding required. In addition, a GitHub repository is available providing more examples, tutorials, and other development resources.

Using these resources helps make short work of developing applications such as personal electronics including wearable devices for activity recognition and health monitoring, as well as industrial devices such as asset trackers, equipment-condition monitors, robots, and machine controllers.

ST’s ISM330IS and LSM6DSO16IS inertial modules contain an always-on 3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscope with the embedded ISPU. They feature low power consumption, drawing as little as 0.46mA in low-power mode, and low noise at 70μg/√Hz in high-performance mode. Sensor hub functionality allows them to collect data from up to four additional external sensors. An embedded temperature sensor is also included, and each device is housed in a compact 2.5mm x 3mm x 0.83mm plastic land grid array (LGA) package.

SPM Instrument (https://www.spminstrument.com/), a Strängnäs, Sweden, based innovator in condition monitoring and process optimization, relied on ST’s ISPU toolchain and the X-CUBE-ISPU to tailor, in a short time, the ISPU behavior in their new products for vibration-severity analysis that contain the ISM330IS sensor.

SPM’s sensing solution is ideal for remote condition monitoring of standard production equipment such as pumps and fans, as well as inaccessible machines and equipment placed in hostile or risky environments. The ISM330IS enabled designers to meet a tight power budget, also overcoming the limited processing capabilities available in the local microcontroller.

SPM also features in ST’s intelligent-sensing webinar, which is available at the registration page: Webinar: In-sensor monitoring with intelligent MEMS sensors – STMicroelectronics.

The ISPU-toolchain, X-CUBE-ISPU and GitHub model zoo are ready now to download, free of charge, at st.com. The ISM330IS and LSM6DSO16IS intelligent MEMS sensors are in production now and available — with free samples at ST eSTore — or at distributors, priced from $3.92 for the LSM6DSO16IS and $3.97 for the ISM330IS.

Please visit www.st.com/ispu for more information.