IPv6-ready Bluetooth Smart protocol stack powers Internet of Things applications

Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (Oslo, Norway) announced the launch of its nRF51 IoT (Internet of Things) Software Development Kit (SDK), an IPv6-ready complete Internet Protocol Suite for Nordic's nRF51 Series of systems-on-chips (SoCs). According to Nordic, the SDK enables native and interoperable IP-based connectivity between a Bluetooth Smart 'thing' and a cloud service. Now available for download, the SDK also enables the Bluetooth Smart chips to be used in large, distributed, cloud-connected, heterogeneous networks, including those for home, industrial, and enterprise automation.

"With the emergence and massive growth of wearables, Bluetooth Smart is already an established and key technology for connecting 'my things' to the Internet," says Thomas Embla Bonnerud, director of product management with Nordic Semiconductor. "The nRF51 IoT SDK unleashes the potential of Bluetooth Smart for connecting 'things around us'."

Leveraging the newly adopted Internet Protocol Support Profile (IPSP) from the Bluetooth SIG and 6LoWPAN technology from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the SDK takes Bluetooth Smart technology with Nordic's nRF51 Series and IoT to the next level by enabling end-to-end IP based communications, according to the company.

"This SDK solution enables developers to take advantage of Bluetooth Smart in a completely new range of IoT segments and applications," adds Nordic's Bonnerud. "We believe that IPv6 over Bluetooth Smart is a key enabling technology for power, size, and cost-constrained IoT applications. We are both proud and excited to be the first company to introduce a complete and fully integrated solution."

Complementing the SDK, Nordic is also providing a software set-up for emulating a 'headless' router with support for IPv6 Bluetooth Smart using a Raspberry Pi (Model B), a Bluetooth Smart Ready USB dongle, Raspbian GNU/Linux Kernel 3.17.4, and a radvd deamon. The combination of this 'headless' router set-up, the new nRF51-DK, and the nRF51 IoT SDK provide developers with a powerful and complete platform for developing Bluetooth Smart based Internet of Things applications with Nordic nRF51 Series SoCs, contends the company.

"Bluetooth continues to offer OEMs, developers, and consumers new possibilities in wireless connectivity. Now, with a new profile - IPSP - announced with 4.2, sensors can access the Internet directly via IPv6 and 6LoWPAN," asserts Errett Kroeter, senior marketing director for the Bluetooth SIG. "Bluetooth Smart is the only wireless technology that provides the flexibility to innovate, ability to scale to the market, and trust of a globally recognized standard. All of which are essential to delivering the promise of the Internet of Things. We are excited to see companies moving so quickly to take advantage of the IP connectivity capabilities now available for Bluetooth Smart."

This first alpha release complements the nRF51 SDK and is compatible with the new Nordic nRF51 Development Kit (nRF51-DK). Learn more about this product.