NEED
- Develop firmware with Assembly language for consumer electronics.
- Develop security software in conformity with the standard IEC 60335 (electrical appliances for household use).
- Integrate Alexa using the ACK module (Alexa Connect Kit).
OPERATING CONTEXT
Considering the high volume of pieces produced annually, the production subject to development was guided by a design-to-cost approach. For this reason, the development of firmware on microcontrollers with reduced capabilities and performance was requested in order to save as much as possible on the volume of the pieces (ALU at 8 bit, 256 Byte of RAM, 8KByte of ROM).
The integration of Alexa required a dedicated chip that meets the minimum requirements of the WiFi library for integration with the ACK module. This component exclusively handles communications with ACK, without any application logic. This separation allows for future production of device versions without Alexa by installing only a cost-effective alternative chip while maintaining all product functionalities unchanged.
SOLUTION PROVIDED BY AIKNOW
AIknow is able to quickly learn the operation and peculiarities of the microcontroller selected by the customer, based on their specific needs, in order to design and achieve firmware implemented with low-level languages (Assembly, C), both from a functional and safety point of view. For this specific case study, AIknow put together:
- Safety functions in order to control logs and components of the microcontroller.
- A serial communication protocol for data exchange between the low-level chip and the WiFi chip.
- A host application to manage the Alexa Connect Kit module.
- Integration with Alexa services to enable device control via voice commands or mobile app.
