The SoC is like a Swiss army knife, with connectivity for proprietary long range wireless networks and protocols such as Amazon Sidewalk and Wi-SUN. It includes radios for sub-GHz and 2.4Ghz Bluetooth LE and what is believed to be the industry’s first built-in AI/ML accelerator for machine learning inference, as well as Silicon Labs’  Secure Vault technology.

By providing sub-Ghz connectivity using networks like Wi-SUN, the FG28 can serve as the battery-operated end node in smart cities, for example, as a tracker on dumpsters to help locate them and check the last time they were emptied, or in irrigation systems across multi-acre commercial farming operations, or as livestock trackers and health monitors on sprawling ranches. Bluetooth connectivity not only allows for devices to easily be deployed on the network, but also allows for operators to connect to the device locally for functions such as diagnostics or data downloads.

Additional features can open new applications for sub-Ghz devices. The integrated AI/ML hardware accelerator allows for machine learning inference at the edge to enable predictive maintenance warnings, monitor soil conditions for key conditions like moisture and pH levels.

There is also 1024kbyte of flash storage and 256kbyte of RAM to accommodate a wide range of protocols and technology stacks.

The Secure Vault Mid and High allow designers to choose the level of security they need for their applications.

The energy-efficient radio core has low active and sleep currents with fast wakeup times ideal for battery-operated end nodes. The SoC also has up to 49 general purpose I/O pins.

The FG28 is currently sampling with general availability planned before the end of Q3 2023. The FG28 will also be available in derivatives for optimised for Amazon Sidewalk and Z-Wave long range, and as a standalone MCU.