Semiconductor company Espressif Systems expands their RISC-V product portfolio with the addition of a new SoC to their ESP32 family. The new offering is the ESP32-H2, an IEEE 802.15.4 and Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 5.2 LE) capable single core RISC-V System-on-Chip. The standard IEEE 802.15.4 defines low-power and low-rate communication over ISM radio bands. It serves as the basis for many Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Network (LR-WPAN) protocols like Zigbee, Thread and 6LoWPAN.
LR-WPAN technologies form the wireless networking and communication backbone for devices that are spread in a smaller area like a home. Such applications can include home automation devices like sensors, smart appliances, smart lighting and HVAC systems. With the help of an internet gateway, these devices can form the Internet of Things (IoT) network. The low-rate yet reliable communication comes with the advantage of low power consumption and efficient use of the spectrum. The ESP32-H2 supporting Thread, Zigbee and BLE 5.2 for short range communication, makes it an ideal option for combined LR-WPAN and IoT capabilities that form the basis for Smart Home applications.