UrsaLeo UltraLite Gateway
UL-NXP1S2R2, Version 1.4

The UrsaLeo UltraLite IoT Evaluation Kit is designed to serve as a starting point for connecting sensors to Google Cloud Platform. When assembled and powered on, data from nine different environmental and motion sensors is immediately sent to Google Cloud where it can be viewed and processed using UrsaLeo Cloud Console.

Kit contents

• UrsaLeo Gateway - based on NXP iMX6UL Evaluation Kit with additional debug LED's
• Silicon Labs Thunderboard Sense 2 sensor board
• Murata WiFi / BLE combo development board
• 16GB microSD card preconfigured with Yocto Linux and UrsaLeo Gateway demonstration application

Getting started

The Evaluation Kit is simple to assemble - follow the step-by-step instructions here: Getting-Started with your UltraLite

The first step is to create an UrsaLeo Cloud account that links the Gateway to Google Cloud Platform. Once that is done the development kit is ready for power-on. UrsaLeo UltraLite comes pre-loaded with Yocto Linux and the UrsaLeo Gateway demonstration application. Please download the latest image from the UrsaLeo website and follow the instructions to update the application to the latest version. We recommend viewing the NXP video, Getting Started with the evaluation kit for the i.MX 6UltraLite

Overview

Once a cloud account has been created using UrsaLeo Cloud Console, the Gateway is ready to connect to Google Cloud and start sending sensor data for display, processing and triggering actions. The sensor board can be powered using a USB cable (recommended) connected to the Gateway or from a coin cell battery. Note: power consumption of the Silicon Labs TB2 means a coin cell will only last one or two days. Once powered on, the Gateway will boot and connect to the sensor board using Bluetooth Low Energy and begin transmitting data to Google Cloud through the wired or wireless internet connection.

Wired Ethernet

Connect an Ethernet cable to either ethernet ports - only DHCP is supported at this time. Both hot and cold plug is supported. Also - please note if WiFi AND wired Ethernet are connected at the same time, unpredictable behavior can result. At power-on, the Gateway will retrieve the time/date, establish a connection to Google Cloud and begin sampling the sensors and transmitting data. Readings will start appearing in the UrsaLeo Cloud Console a few seconds later.

Wifi Access

The Gateway supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA) and WiFi Protected Access II (WPA2) 802.11 wireless authentication and encryption standards. Detailed instructions for configuring wireless access is available www.ursaleo.com/gettingstarted. Only wired or wireless access is supported. Once configured the Gateway automatically establishes a connection to Google Cloud and begins sampling the sensors and transmitting data. Readings will start appearing in the UrsaLeo Cloud Console a few seconds later.

LED debug

UrsaLeo provides an LED debug board that can be used to indicate the status of the Gateway. The following LED conditions are available 

• LED 1 on - system clock has updated time/date from NTP server
• LED 2 on - data is being received from the Thunderboard
• LED 3 on - MQTT link is established withmGoogle Cloud
• LED 4,5,6 are reserved for future use or for developers
• All LEDs off - clean shutdown, power can safely be removed

Thunderboard reset

The Thunderboard stops advertising after 30 seconds (before the Gateway finishes booting for example). It is good practice to press the small black reset button on the TB2 after boot-up and at regular intervals.

Over the Air (OTA) updates

Future software releases (after version 1.2) will be delivered OTA. This is important to keep the Linux security patches up to date and will be released roughly in sync with new versions of Yocto Linux.

Next steps

Once sensor data is flowing from the Gateway and up to Google Cloud, users can start to customize the code for their specific needs. We support requests on our website to:

• Add new sensors to the code base
• Migrate the code to custom hardware using SDK + our support
• Support volume manufacturing with UUID and serial numbers to connect to the Google cloud

Gateway specifications (NXP i.MX6 UltraLite Evaluation Kit)

• i.MX 6Ultralite applications processor with 696 MHz ARM Cortex-A7 core
• 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM 400 MHz
• 256 MB QSPI NOR Flash
• eMMC (unpopulated) / NAND flash (unpopulated)
• MicroSD connector / SD connector
• LCD expansion port connector
• USB OTG connector / USB Host connector
• 3.5 mm audio stereo headphone jack
• Board-mounted microphone
• L/R speaker connectors
• Two 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet connectors
• CAN bus connector
• Sensors including:
  • Three-axis accelerometer
  • Digital compass
  • Gyroscope (unpopulated)
• JTAG 20-pin 2.54 mm connector
• Debug port for ARM Cortex-A7 core
• Bluetooth connector

Sensor specifications (Silicon Labs Thunderboard Sense 2)

• Relative Humidity and Temperature Sensor Si7021
• UV and Ambient Light Sensor Si1133
• Pressure Sensor BMP280
• Indoor Air Quality and Gas Sensor CCS811
• 6-axis Inertial Sensor ICM-20648
• Digital Microphone ICS-43434
• High brightness LEDs
• Hall-effect Sensor Si7210