#Norway #Oslo #IoT Devices #Nordic Semiconductor #nRF71 Series

Nordic Semiconductor's nRF71 Series: A Breakthrough in Battery-Powered Wi-Fi Devices

In a significant leap toward enhancing energy efficiency, Nordic Semiconductor has announced its latest innovation, the nRF71 Series of ultra-low-power Systems-On-Chip (SoCs). This new line of chipsets integrates advanced low-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, and edge AI capabilities into a single chip, making it a pioneering solution for developers targeting battery-operated Wi-Fi devices.

Unlocking New Possibilities with Energy Efficiency

The nRF71 Series promises to revolutionize the way battery-powered devices manage energy consumption. By delivering up to 20 times lower standby power usage compared to its predecessor, the nRF70 Series, this new chipset opens avenues for applications across various sectors such as smart homes, wearables, and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Kjetil Holstad, the Executive Vice President of Wi-Fi and Power Management at Nordic, emphasizes that previous Wi-Fi power demands posed a challenge for battery-reliant devices: “With the nRF71 Series, Nordic removes that barrier. We are bringing Wi-Fi and edge AI to the same ultra-low-power platform.” This innovation is expected to enable the next generation of intelligent products to maintain connectivity, make real-time decisions, and operate for extended periods on battery power.

The Power of Integrated Edge AI

One of the standout features of the nRF71 Series is its integrated Axon Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This innovative addition allows for on-device AI processing without the need for external processors, resulting in instantaneous responses while minimizing power consumption. The series supports diverse applications such as keyword spotting, anomaly detection, and image classification, bringing sophisticated AI capabilities to battery-powered devices. By running machine learning models 10x to 17x faster than with the Cortex-M33 processor alone, the nRF71 Series is truly set to redefine the potential of edge AI in IoT applications.

Capabilities for Smart Home and Industrial Applications

The versatility of the nRF71 Series shines through in its ability to support various communication protocols simultaneously. Devices designed with this chipset can incorporate Wi-Fi, Thread, and Bluetooth LE all on a single chip. This means that essential smart home devices—such as Matter-enabled smart locks, security panels, and wearables—can stay connected to the cloud while still processing other communications seamlessly. With separate RF blocks operating independently, both Wi-Fi and additional protocols can receive signals concurrently, enhancing the overall efficiency of device operations.

The introduction of the nRF7120 and nRF7120E—with features like dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and tri-band Wi-Fi 6E—marks the next step in Nordic's commitment to create devices that integrate advanced functionality without compromising on power efficiency. Notably, both variants come equipped with significant amounts of on-chip non-volatile memory and user-accessible RAM, making them robust choices for complex applications.

Showcasing the Future of IoT

Nordic Semiconductor will showcase the nRF71 Series at Electronica, providing an excellent opportunity for developers and tech enthusiasts to experience this innovative technology first-hand. As a frontrunner in the low-power wireless IoT landscape, Nordic aims to continue simplifying the development process for secure, reliable, and scalable connected devices.

Availability and Development Resources

The nRF71 Series is currently being sampled with select customers, and developers looking to leverage this cutting-edge technology can reach out to Nordic’s local sales representatives for more information on availability. Nordic also offers rich resources including hardware, embedded software, development tools, and cloud services to support the seamless integration of these advanced chipsets into everyday products.

About Nordic Semiconductor

Founded with a vision to drive innovation in low-power wireless solutions, Nordic Semiconductor successfully connects millions of IoT devices in consumer, healthcare, and industrial markets worldwide. With unmatched expertise and commitment to quality, Nordic is continually pushing the boundaries of technology to improve the way we interact with the connected world. For more information, visit Nordic Semiconductor.