Arduino Core for WisBlock Core RAK4631 and RAK4601 modules

This repository contains the Arduino BSP for WisBlock Core modules:

• RAK4631
• RAK4601

What is WisBlock?

WisBlock is an amazing product built by the RAK company for IoT industry. It can build circuits like clicking blocks together to quickly to realize your idea. Checkout Overview for information or visit our documentation center

RAKwireless invests time and resources providing this open source code, please support RAKwireless and open-source hardware by purchasing products from RAKwireless!

For support and questions about RAKwireless products please visit our forum
For examples and quick start tutorial please visit our Github Repo
For additional information about RAK products please visit our Documentation Center
To buy WisBlock modules please visit our online store

Content

• Overview

  • Description
  • Key Features
  • WisBlock Highlights

• BSP Installation

  • Stable Version
  • Examples and Tutorials

  • Configuration

Overview

Description

WisBlock is a modular system that makes it easy to implement a low power wide area network (LPWAN) into your IoT solution. WisBlock is going with your solution from rapid prototyping to mass production without the need to create new hardware modules for each step.

• In the development phase, WisBlock modularity allows you to test different microcontrollers, sensors, communication technology, IO options by changing modules with the simple plug-in modules.
• WisBlock industrial-grade modules can be used in mass production without the need to redesign the prototypes.
• Even once deployed, devices can be modified or repaired with minimal waste and effort

Key Features

Click. Code. Connect.

WisBlock is created with 4 modular blocks.

1. WisBlock Base is the baseboard that connects everything.
2. WisBlock Core is the computation and communication module
3. WisBlock Sensor is a selection of sensor and input modules
4. WisBlock IO extends the output and communication possibilities of the WisBlock Core

WisBlock Highlights

• With the use of a compact connector, this makes its size exceptionally small. A WisBlock Base board, which is the base carrier, is only 30mm by 60mm in size.
• Using an industrial rated connector, it enables you to use the same modules from rapid prototyping to testing to final product.
• WisBlock is not only modular on the hardware base but with ready to use software blocks it is simple to create an application to match your solution requirements.

WisBlock Base

• WisBlock Base is the carrier for all WisBlock modules.
• It contains the power supply for all modules, USB/5V connector, battery charger, solar charger, status LED, and reset button.
• One WisBlock Base can hold one microcontroller module (WisBlock Core), one IO module (WisBlock IO), and up to 4 sensor modules (WisBlock Sensor).application to match your solution requirements.

WisBlock Core

• WisBlock Core is the data processing center of WisBlock.
• Some WisBlock Core modules also offer LoRa®/LoRaWan® communication and additional communication means like Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, or Wi-Fi.

WisBlock Sensor

• WisBlock Sensor is the data acquisition module of WisBlock.
• It includes analog, digital, and environmental as well as location acquisition sensors.

WisBlock IO

• WisBlock IO modules extend the input and output possibilities of WisBlock.
• Options include cellular, displays, LEDs, button interfaces, and additional USB and GPIO ports as well as Wi-Fi.

BSP Installation

Stable Version

?? WARNING

If you are using Windows 10.
Do NOT install the Arduino IDE from the Microsoft App Store. Please install the original Arduino IDE from the Arduino official website!. The Arduino app from the Microsoft App Store has problems to use third party Board Support Packages. :::

(1) Download and install the Arduino IDE (At least v1.6.12)

(2) Follow this guide to install the required Board Support Package (BSP)

Examples and Tutorials

After you selected a RAK board you can see examples for all WisBlock modules

For more information about the examples and tutorials visit our Github WisBlock repo

Adafruit's nrfutil tools

adafruit-nrfutil (derived from Nordic pc-nrfutil) is needed to upload sketch via serial port.

• For Windows and macOS, pre-built executable binaries are included in the BSP at tools/adafruit-nrfutil/. It should work out of the box.
• Linux user need to run follow command to install it from PyPi

$ pip3 install adafruit-nrfutil --user

Drivers

• SiLabs CP2104 driver might be required for some modules.

Credits

This BSP is based on Adafruits nRF52 BSP,
which is based on Arduino-nRF5 by Sandeep Mistry,
which in turn is based on the Arduino SAMD Core.

The following libraries are used:

• adafruit-nrfutil is based on Nordic Semiconductor ASA's pc-nrfutil
• freeRTOS as operating system
• tinyusb as usb stack
• nrfx for peripherals driver
• littlefs for internal file system