The Nordic nRF51822 SoC enables wireless remote control and programming of the Mi Bunny MITU robot from a smartphone or tablet computer
Nordic Semiconductor today announces that China-based robotic toy developer, Beijing IQI Technology, a subsidiary of smartphone giant Xiaomi, has selected Nordic’s multiple award-winning nRF51822 Bluetooth® low energy (previously known as Bluetooth Smart) System-on-Chip (SoC) for its new Mi Bunny MITU robot. The robot is an intelligent electronic toy that can be built into a diverse range of different robot shapes by connecting individual ‘building blocks’ together.
Using the building blocks the user can create their own unique robot which can then be wirelessly programmed and controlled from Bluetooth 4.0 (and later) iOS and Android smartphones and tablets via the Bluetooth low energy connectivity provided by the nRF51822 SoC.
For example, from the partner app the user can explore a range of different control modes, such as plotting a detailed path for the robot to follow, or using a smartphone or tablet’s in-built gyroscope to control the robot via the Bluetooth low energy wireless link. The robot can even be programmed to complete a series of actions according to the user’s own instructions. The app’s modular and intuitive programming methodology provides a simple, logical programming environment that is easy for children to learn and master.
The Mi Bunny MITU robot is powered by a rechargeable 11.1V Li-ion battery, providing more than 12 hours of operation between recharges, thanks in part to the ultra low power characteristics of the Nordic SoC.
Nordic’s nRF51822 is a powerful and flexible multiprotocol SoC ideally suited for Bluetooth low energy and 2.4GHz ultra low-power wireless applications. The nRF51822 is built around a 32-bit ARM® Cortex™ M0 CPU with 256kB/128kB flash and 32kB/16kB RAM. The embedded 2.4GHz transceiver is fully compliant with Bluetooth 4.2.
“We selected Nordic’s nRF51822 SoC because of its stability and low power consumption,” says Zhang Hu, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Beijing IQI Technology.
Picture Gallery
