Morse Micro has unveiled two Wi-Fi HaLow USB dongle reference designs that could allow industrial computers and robots to gain long-range wireless connectivity without requiring dedicated Wi-Fi HaLow hardware to be designed into the host device.
Based on the company’s MM8108 system-on-chip (SoC), the designs add Wi-Fi HaLow through a USB connection, with the technology offering native IP connectivity over distances of up to 1km, according to Morse Micro.
The MM8108-RD09 is designed for access point (AP) and station (STA) applications. OpenWRT drivers allow existing routers and access points equipped with USB interfaces to be upgraded with Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity.
The MM8108-RD17 takes a different approach, appearing to the host as a standard CDC-NCM Ethernet interface. This means the host device does not need dedicated drivers, allowing the design to be used with a wider range of equipment.
Morse Micro says potential applications include industrial computers and robotics, alongside point-of-sale terminals, tablets and smartphones running Android or iOS.
For industrial applications, the ability to add connectivity through a standard USB interface could offer a relatively straightforward route to extending the range of existing equipment. Wi-Fi HaLow operates in sub-GHz spectrum and is designed to provide longer range and lower power consumption than conventional Wi-Fi.
The company is positioning the new designs for long-range IoT and edge AI applications, where industrial computing platforms may need to exchange data with devices and infrastructure across large sites.
The MM8108-RD17 also supports Wi-Fi Easy Connect, or DPP, allowing devices to be authenticated using a pairing button.
“We anticipate these USB dongle reference designs will vastly accelerate the adoption of Wi-Fi HaLow,” said Michael De Nil, co-founder and CEO of Morse Micro.
The launch builds on Morse Micro’s existing work to make Wi-Fi HaLow easier to integrate into existing network infrastructure. The company’s development resources include USB dongle designs intended for upgrading existing Wi-Fi infrastructure and prototyping USB-based Wi-Fi HaLow products.
Schematics and software for the new MM8108-RD09 and MM8108-RD17 reference designs are available to tier-one customers through Morse Micro sales contacts.
