Sony has developed two new products, the SPRESENCE main and extension boards for IoT applications, equipped with a smart-sensing processor.

The main board operates on low power and features a smart-sensing processor, with a built-in GNSS receiver and an audio codec that supports high-resolution audio sources. It employs a hexa-CPU (ARM Cortex-M4F) multi-core configuration.

The board can be used, for example, to control a drone using GPS positioning technology and a high-performance processor, voice-controlled smart speakers, low-power consumption sensing cameras and other IoT devices, etc. It can also be combined with various sensors for use in systems that detect errors in production lines on the factory floor.

An extension board, which will be used by combined with the main board, is equipped with a headphone jack, microphone jack, and SD card slot, which can be used to develop audio applications with audio recording and playback. It is also equipped with a connector that can control the I/O voltage of the main board to switch from 1.8V to between 3.3V and 5.0V, making it possible to connect and utilize some open-platform, general-purpose extension boards.

Software can be developed by Arduino IDE or Eclipse IDE, etc., enabling a wide range of applications.

Sony will have the new board product on display at the Maker Faire Bay Area 2018 starting Friday, May 18 in San Mateo in the United States, and on Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5 at the Maker Faire Tokyo 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.

The boards will launch in July 31 2018 at an MSPR of 5,500 JPY and 3,500 JPY for the main and extension boards, respectively.

A camera board (CXD5602PWBCAM1) for sensing cameras is also expected to go on sale in August 2018 and will be showcased at Maker Faire Bay Area 2018.