This article illustrates some of the ways that the Silicon Labs Bluetooth Xpress solution can simplify the process of generating a Bluetooth-enabled lamp. The BGX module can, in essence, be a plug-and-play component and a strong tool in the repertory of any embedded IoT development company with certified hardware out of the box.
Although already prolific, IoT devices are still gaining momentum, saturating nearly every industry vertical from medical to industrial, infrastructure to home and more. Bluetooth connectivity has successfully filled a niche for short-range wireless links as an effective cable replacement technology in many applications. Moreover, virtually every existing device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) is Bluetooth-enabled, allowing for a massive array of opportunities for data collection or control applications via a smartphone.
Still, while Bluetooth connectivity in user devices does lower the barriers for remote control of IoT end devices, it is only one piece of the design and development puzzle of an IoT system. Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an end device is a multi-faceted problem, crossing the firmware development, RF hardware design, mobile app development and secure cloud connectivity disciplines.
This article covers some of the difficulties that the average IoT system developer faces when trying to add Bluetooth to a design by running through a simple point-to-point system with a smartphone-controlled lamp use case. In addition, it explains how implementing the Silicon Labs Bluetooth Xpress module could mitigate, if not eliminate, some major obstacles by offering what is essentially a DIY Bluetooth-based home automation platform.