The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010: An Ultimate IoT Electronics Board

I recently got my hands on the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 board and I must say, it’s a game-changer for IoT enthusiasts. This board is the first of its kind to have built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. In this blog post, I want to give you an overview of this impressive board and compare it to the popular Arduino Uno, which is often the go-to choice for beginners.

Form Factor

Let’s start with the appearance of the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010. It measures just 61.4mm x 25mm and weighs a mere 32 grams. When we compare it to the Arduino Uno, the difference is striking. The MKR WiFi 1010 is more than 2 times smaller, making it much more compact and portable.

Power Options

The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 can be powered either with a 5V input or through a Micro-USB connector. It’s worth noting that this board operates at 3.3V, unlike the Arduino Uno, which operates at 5V. This means that the I/O pins on the MKR WiFi 1010 can support a maximum voltage of 3.3V.

Advanced Processor

One of the notable features of the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 is its powerful processor. It comes equipped with a low-power SAMD21 Cortex-M0+ 32-bit ARM processor. In comparison, the Arduino Uno utilizes an 8-bit ATmega328 processor. The 32-bit architecture of the MKR WiFi 1010 enables smoother and faster operations, perfect for resource-intensive IoT projects.

Memory

The board boasts 256KB of Flash Memory and 32KB of SRAM, providing ample space for your code and data storage needs. This ensures that you can build complex IoT applications without worrying about running out of memory.

Versatile I/O Pins

The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 offers a range of I/O pins for connecting external devices and sensors. It provides 8 Digital I/O pins (0-7), 7 Analog Input pins (A0/A6), and 1 Analog Output pin (DAC0/A0). Additionally, several of these pins (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 18, 19) support PWM functionality. You can refer to the comprehensive pinout diagram for more details.

IoT Connectivity Made Easy

The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 comes equipped with a WiFi module, the WiFi U-BLOX NINA-W10 Series Low Power 2.4GHz. This module supports the 802.11 b/g/n protocol, making it compatible with most WiFi networks. In addition to WiFi, it also provides Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity, enabling seamless communication with other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Enhanced Security

To ensure secure connections, the board is equipped with a crypto chip, the ATECC508. This chip enables SHA-256 secure connections, providing an extra layer of protection for your IoT projects.

Li-Po Charging Circuit

The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 also features a dedicated Li-Po charging circuit. This means that you can charge an external battery, specifically a Li-Po Single Cell with a minimum capacity of 700mAh, through the Micro-USB port. When the USB power is disconnected, the board automatically switches to the external battery as the power source.

Price Comparison

Now, let’s talk about the price. At the time of writing, the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 is priced at €29.90 on the official Arduino store. In comparison, the Arduino Uno Rev3 is priced at €20.00, while the Arduino Uno WiFi Rev2 costs €38.90. It’s important to note that the MKR WiFi 1010 offers built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, while the Uno Rev3 lacks these features. If we consider the Uno WiFi Rev2 as its IoT counterpart, the MKR WiFi 1010 is €9 cheaper, making it a cost-effective choice for IoT enthusiasts.

In conclusion, the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 is an exceptional IoT electronics board that offers advanced features and outstanding connectivity options. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this board provides an excellent platform for building innovative IoT projects.

tags: [“IoT”, “Arduino”, “MKR WiFi 1010”, “electronics board”, “WiFi connectivity”, “Bluetooth connectivity”, “SAMD21 Cortex-M0+”, “Flash memory”, “SRAM”, “I/O pins”]