End Note

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

On February 7th, the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Universidad de Manizales hosted an intensive series of workshops on IoT, LoRaWAN, and decentralized networks, in collaboration with Seeed Studio. More than 30 students and 5 faculty members from the fields of semiconductors and telecommunications, along with university directors, actively participated in this event, which combined theory, practice, and collaborative prototyping.

Workshop 1: Exploring IoT, LoRaWAN, and DePIN with SenseCAP

The first workshop focused on a theoretical and practical introduction to LoRaWAN, IoT, and DePIN. Participants explored the SenseCAP ecosystem, learning about its connectivity with networks such as Helium and The Things Network. During an interactive session on Miro, they identified challenges within the university campus and proposed solutions using SenseCAP devices.

Among the identified issues, the uncontrolled entry of domestic animals into the campus nature reserve was highlighted, posing risks to wildlife conservation. Additionally, there were concerns about monitoring and preserving water sources, as well as ensuring student safety from encounters with wild animals. Other proposals included monitoring unauthorized parking space usage with sensors such as the SenseCAP S1101 and XIAO ESP32S3 Sense.

Workshop 2: IoT System Architecture and Deployment for the Nature Reserve

In the second session, participants defined system architectures and proceeded with the implementation of a technology-based solution for the nature reserve. The selected devices, SenseCAP S2110 Sensor Builder and SenseCAP S1101, were used for wildlife identification and monitoring, combined with an audible alert system to warn students about the presence of animals.

The workshop included assembling and configuring sensors using the SenseCraft application, setting up SenseCAP CC Portal, and initiating the training of an AI vision model for wildlife identification. Due to adverse weather conditions, the installation in the reserve was postponed, but it will be completed in the coming days, with updates to follow.

Workshop 3: Mission Pack and Mesh Networks for Emergencies

The third workshop, aimed at faculty and senior students in systems and telecommunications, focused on the Mission Pack, emphasizing its application in smart cities, communities, and institutions. A Meshtastic network was deployed using T1000-E Tracker cards, simulating scenarios with no cellular or WiFi connectivity to evaluate its effectiveness in emergencies.

Use cases from across the Americas were analyzed, including flooding in Los Angeles, where deploying SenseCAP M2 and WM1302 within the reComputer of the Mission Pack could optimize rescue operations and disaster mitigation through real-time environmental monitoring.

Impact and Future of the Project

These workshops have enabled students and faculty to explore emerging technologies and prototype solutions for real-world challenges. In the coming days, the final system deployment in the nature reserve will take place in collaboration with the university’s IoT research group. This system will not only benefit the university community but will also provide new opportunities for Data Science students, who can use the collected data for research projects.

Furthermore, a SenseCAP M2 Gateway has been deployed, connecting to the Helium decentralized network, expanding the campus’s connectivity capabilities.

This event marks a significant step forward in adopting IoT technologies in educational settings, demonstrating how open-source hardware and decentralized networks can drive real-world impact in communities.

Our livestream “Making Next Gadgets” will feature a different tech theme weekly, with our product dev teams sharing the latest product updates, project demos, and exclusive deals. Join us on a journey through the tech revolution happening right now!

Get the inside scoop on recent events and news. Gain valuable insights, key takeaways, and highlights from industry experts and thought leaders at the forefront of ML innovation.

Celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of our community members with featured projects and ideas in machine learning. From open-source libraries to DIY solutions, there’s no shortage of inspiration to be found among our talented community.

01. ARMOR: Egocentric Perception for Humanoid Robot Powered by XIAO ESP32S3

Daehwa Kim (Carnegie Mellon University), Mario Srouji, Chen Chen, and Jian Zhang (Apple) have developed ARMOR, an innovative egocentric perception hardware and software system for humanoid robots. By combining Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3-based wearable depth sensor networks and transformer-based policies, ARMOR tackles the challenges of collision avoidance and motion planning in dense environments. Check it out. 

It’s been a while since the conclusion of Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2401, and as we welcome the new year, we reflect on an exciting milestone—Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2501, an initiative that continues to foster collaboration between academic research and industrial innovation.

This January, in partnership with SUSTech School of Design, AIRS, SciArt Co-lab, Chaihuo Makerspace, Immersive Design Group, Anker Innovations, Andone, and the Greater Bay ACM SIGCHI Chapter, we hosted 10 distinguished researchers from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) for a month-long Research at Scale residency. The program provided participants with a deep dive into Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem, facilitating engagement with industry leaders, academic peers, and local innovators to explore scalable research applications.

Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue

The residency commenced with the Scalable HCI Research Symposium, a week-long event designed to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial practice. The symposium featured:

• Academic presentations from leading researchers
• Industry talks addressing current trends and challenges in manufacturing and design
• Cultural and art-tech exhibitions showcasing the intersection of creativity and technology
• Factory visits providing firsthand exposure to Shenzhen’s world-class manufacturing capabilities

The symposium attracted over 50 researchers, engineers, and designers from 20+ globally recognized institutions, including MIT, Harvard, CMU, NYU, Brown, Stanford, and the University of Chicago. This diverse participation facilitated a global exchange of ideas, positioning Shenzhen as a hub for scalable human-computer interaction (HCI) research and innovation.

“How to Make Almost Anything in Shenzhen”

Eric Pan, CEO at Seeed Studio, provided a comprehensive overview of Shenzhen’s evolving manufacturing landscape, covering topics such as design for manufacturing, supplier relationships, intellectual property considerations, and the emergence of ShenzhenGPT. He also introduced the Open Manufacturing Whitepaper, offering practical insights for researchers and entrepreneurs looking to navigate and leverage Shenzhen’s industrial ecosystem.

MIT Media Lab Research Presentations

Alan Han, Andy Kong, Francisco Ramirez, Jason Hou, Lingdong Huang, Patrick Chwalek, Thomas Sanchez, Vineet Padia, Yuhan Wang and Cedric Honnet from the MIT presented their latest works, engaging with local startups, makers, and industry leaders to explore potential collaborations and applications for their technologies.

From Research to Real-World Application: HuaQiangBei and Factory Visits

A core objective of the residency was to bridge theoretical research with hands-on industry engagement. The HuaQiangBei Electronics Market (HQB) and factory visits provided researchers with invaluable exposure to Shenzhen’s fast-paced hardware ecosystem.

Exploring HuaQiangBei: The Epicenter of Electronics Innovation

HQB is often described as the world’s largest electronics market, offering everything from raw components to finished products and prototyping services. For the MIT researchers, HQB served as a living lab, where they could explore:

• Rapid prototyping resources: A vast selection of sensors, microcontrollers, and PCB services available off-the-shelf
• Component sourcing strategies: Direct interaction with suppliers to understand sourcing options, bulk pricing, and lead times
• Emerging trends in consumer electronics: First-hand exposure to cutting-edge AI-driven hardware, robotics, and IoT devices

By engaging with local vendors, the team gained insights into the speed, flexibility, and affordability that make Shenzhen a global leader in agile hardware development.

Factory Visits: From Concept to Production

Beyond sourcing components, the researchers had the opportunity to visit key manufacturing facilities across Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, covering a wide range of production capabilities:

• PCB Assembly & Flexible PCB Manufacturing: Understanding high-precision board fabrication, surface-mount technology (SMT), and flexible circuits for wearable and embedded applications
• Injection Molding & Industrial Design: Observing the molding and mass-production processes that transform initial designs into scalable products
• MicroLED and E-paper Display Production: Gaining insights into next-generation display technologies, including their applications in smart devices and interactive installations
• Stepper Motors and Servo Systems: Exploring the role of motion control technologies in robotics, automation, and industrial applications

Each visit provided a real-world perspective on the end-to-end product development cycle, reinforcing how research-driven innovations can be translated into scalable, market-ready solutions.

Smart Space Hackathon: Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration

One of the most impactful components of the program was the Smart Space Hackathon, co-hosted by Chaihuo, Seeed, and Anker. The event brought together more than 30 participants, including academic researchers, industry professionals, and members of the local maker community, to develop innovative solutions for smart environments.

In total, 11 projects were developed, with 8 successfully delivering functional prototypes. Concepts ranged from smart interactive devices and robotic workspace assistants to AI-driven privacy protection solutions and sound-responsive environment. The hackathon underscored the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and demonstrated how rapid prototyping and applied research can drive meaningful innovation.

Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2501 reinforced the value of connecting academia, industry, and the maker community to accelerate real-world impact. Participants left with a deeper understanding of Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem, hands-on experience in sourcing and production, and new perspectives on how to scale their research into tangible innovations.

You can find a vibrant documentation from the MIT students on Seeed Studio’s GitHub Channel (keep updating).

We extend our gratitude to all partners and participants for contributing to this meaningful exchange of knowledge and ideas.

We’ve heard from our community about the limited number of compatible add-on modules for our tiny but powerful Seeed Studio XIAO boards. Starting 2025, we’re addressing this by developing more XIAO add-ons!

Seeed Studio XIAO Add-ons are expansion boards, sensors, connectivity modules, and actuators with a socket where Seeed Studio XIAO dev boards (pre-soldered versions) clip right in. You can explore the full collection on our Seeed Studio XIAO Selector page.

For our first product collection of the year, we’re introducing a new relay, ePaper Driver Board, expansion board, and sensor – all compatible with Seeed Studio XIAO boards!

ePaper Driver Board for XIAO

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (SAMD21, RP2040, nRF52840, nRF52840 Sense, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6, RP2350, RA4M1, The pre-soldered variants for XIAO MG24 and XIAO MG24 Sense will be coming soon)

This ePaper driver board features a 24-pin FPC connector, a built-in charging IC, and a JST 2-pin BAT connector. It’s perfect for creating WiFi-enabled digital photo frames, supporting various ePaper displays (2.13″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 122×250 Pixels, 2.9″ Quadruple Color eInk / ePaper Display with 128×296 Pixels, 5.83″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 648×480 Pixels, 2.9″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 296×128 Pixels).

Compared to our 2023 ePaper Breakout Board, this new version includes:

• JST 2-pin BAT connector
• Built-in charging IC
• Onboard power switch
• Extra 14 IO pins for expansion
• Standard XIAO add-on dimension (which is the triple size of a XIAO board)

Don’t worry – we’ll keep both versions available to suit different application needs. Currently, this new ePaper Driver Board is available for pre-order at $4.9, with estimated shipping at the end of January 2025.

Relay Add-on Module for XIAO

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (SAMD21, RP2040, nRF52840, nRF52840 Sense, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6, RP2350, RA4M1, The pre-soldered variants for XIAO MG24 and XIAO MG24 Sense will be coming soon)

Need to control DC appliances from your XIAO? This single-channel 5V Relay Add-on Module for XIAO handles all the control with DC. With snap-on compatibility for pre-soldered XIAO boards and screw terminals, no soldering is required! The HF32FA-G relay makes it perfect for IoT and home automation. P.S. Our team also designed a 3D enclosure for this relay add-on with an XIAO dev board and open sourced it on Thingiverse for you to remix.

For dual-load AC control, check out our plug-and-play 2-Channel AC WiFi Relay, based on XIAO ESP32C3. It comes pre-flashed with ESPHome firmware for compatibility with native Home Assistant.

XIAO Logger Hat

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (battery voltage monitoring unavailable for XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RP2040)

Looking for a thumb-size temperature, humidity and light sensor? XIAO Logger Hat gets you covered. Created by Westlake University’s Marcel and scaled through Fusion Co-Create, this thumb-sized environmental sensor includes SHT40 temperature, humidity, and BH1750 light sensors, plus RTC and battery voltage monitoring.

XIAO PowerBread, a Breadboard Power Supply and Meter

Compatibility: Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (RP2040, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6) (XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RP2350 support coming soon)

Designed by Nicho D through Seeed Fusion Co-Create, XIAO PowerBread is a compact breadboard power supply with built-in monitoring. It provides stable 3.3V and 5V outputs with real-time voltage, current, and power tracking on its LCD display. It’s open-source with comprehensive documentation and customizable code.

That’s our new product roundup! Tell us which product interests you most or share your suggestions. Want to influence our future products? Join the discussion on our Seeed Studio XIAO Open Roadmap – your input shapes what we build next.

Until next time!

Notes at the end.

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

Seeed se complace en anunciar una alianza estratégica con Atianza Solutions. Esta colaboración tiene como objetivo proporcionar soluciones innovadoras de Edge AI a diversas industrias en América Latina, promoviendo la innovación y las tecnologías de vanguardia en la región.

Acerca de Seeed Studio

Seeed Studio, un destacado socio en hardware de inteligencia artificial (IA), ha sido una empresa líder en hardware abierto desde 2008, empoderando a más de medio millón de usuarios directos para crear soluciones digitales reales. Gracias a un esfuerzo constante y la confianza ganada, las líneas de productos de Seeed ahora abordan escenarios emergentes de IA, tales como:

• Redes de sensores para recopilar extensos datos en tiempo real.
• Computación edge para llevar la inteligencia a nuevas fronteras.

Seeed ofrece módulos y dispositivos listos para la industria, además de facilitar el desarrollo de prototipos y la producción. Innovadores de diferentes sectores trabajan junto a Seeed para hacer que sus creaciones estén ampliamente disponibles en mercados diversos, fomentando el uso de código abierto, la construcción de comunidades y soluciones industriales integradas junto a Seeed.

Acerca de Atianza

Atianza es un equipo multidisciplinario con sede en Santiago de Chile que cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia en la industria. Con presencia en tres países –Chile, Colombia y España – Atianza cruza fronteras para ofrecer soluciones ágiles y personalizadas.

Especialidades de Atianza:

• Arquitectura e Ingeniería
• Diseño y Usabilidad
• Gestión y Control

En Atianza, la innovación, la experiencia y la agilidad convergen para crear una alianza hacia un futuro más conectado y eficiente. No se trata sólo de desarrollar software, sino de co-crear soluciones que transformen y potencien la visión empresarial.

La Alianza

Seeed y Atianza unen fuerzas para ofrecer soluciones integrales de Edge AI en América Latina. Esta colaboración combina el hardware de última generación de Seeed con la experiencia analítica personalizada de Atianza para satisfacer las diversas necesidades del mercado.

Iniciativas Clave:

• Distribución de dispositivos Edge AI y kits de desarrollo de Seeed Studio.
• Soluciones personalizadas de videoanalítica y análisis de datos adaptadas a las industrias de Chile, Colombia y España.

Juntos, Seeed y Atianza buscan crear un futuro más inteligente y eficiente para las empresas de la región, aprovechando sus fortalezas combinadas en hardware, software y experiencia en integración.
¡Contáctanos en support@atianza.com para obtener una solución de IA personalizada que acelere el crecimiento de tu negocio!

End Note

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

Halloo Everyone, welcome to this blog!

The main topic is NEW PRODUCTS! And the keywords are LoRaWAN and Vision AI. You would wonder, “your devices has a camera and it is LoRaWAN?” Yes indeed! I know, I know! You would tell me “You can’t send images or videos via LoRaWAN because the ‘message’ is too large”, or someone else would say “Technically you can, but you need to ‘slice’ the large images or videos to send them ‘bit by bit’ and ‘piece them together’ aferward. Then why bother?”

What if I tell you, you don’t have to send the images or videos? Think about it, the goal is to get the results captured by the camera, not tons of irrelevant footage. In this case, as long as you can get the results, there is no need to send large images or videos.

SenseCAP A1102 LoRaWAN Vision AI Sensor

Without further ado, here comes the intro of our main cast of this post – SenseCAP A1102, an IP66-rated LoRaWAN® Vision AI Sensor, ideal for low-power, long-range TinyML Edge AI applications. It comes with 3 pre-deployed models (human detection, people counting, and meter reading) by default. Meanwhile, with SenseCraft AI platform [Note 1], you can use the pre-trained models or train your customized models conveniently within a few clicks. Of course, SenseCAP A1102 also supports TensorFlow Lite and PyTorch.

This Device consists of two main parts: the AI Camera and the LoRaWAN Data Logger. While different technologies are integrated in this nifty device, I would like to highlight 4 key aspects:

• Advanced AI Processor

As a vision AI Sensor, SenseCAP A1102 proudly adopted the advanced Himax WiseEye2 HX6538 processor featuring a dual-core Arm Cortex-M55 and integrated Arm Ethos-U55. (The same AI processor as in Grove Vision AI v2 Kit.) This ensures a high performance in vision processing.

Meanwhile, please keep in mind that lighting and distance will affect the performance, which is common for applications that involve cameras. According to our testing, SenseCAP A1102 can achieve 70% confidence for results within 1 ~ 5 meters in normal lighting.

• Low-Power Consumption, Long-Range Communication

SenseCAP A1102 is built with Wio E5 Module featuring STM32WLE5JC, ARM Cortex M4 MCU, and Semtech SX126X. This ensures low-power consumption and long-range communication, as in SenseCAP S210X LoRaWAN Environmental sensors. Supporting a wide range of 863MHz – 928MHz frequency, you can order the same device for different stages of your projects in multiple continents, saving time, manpower, and costs in testing, inventory management, and shipment, etc.

SenseCAP A1102 opens up new possibilities to perceive the world. The same hardware with different AI models, you have different sensors for detecting “objects” (fruits, poses, and animals) or reading meters (in scale or digits), and many more. With the IP66 rating (waterproof and dustproof), it can endure long-term deployment in outdoor severe environments.

We understand interoperability is important. As a standard LoRaWAN device, SenseCAP A1102 can be used with any standard LoRaWAN gateways. When choosing SenseCAP Outdoor Gateway or SenseCAP M2 Indoor Gateway, it is easier for configuration and provisioning.

• Easy Set-up and Configure with SenseCraft App

We provide SenseCraft App and SenseCAP Web Portal for you to set up, configure, and manage the devices & data more easily.

At SenseCraft App, you can change settings with simple clicks such as choose the platform, change the frequency for the specific region, change data upload intervals (5 ~ 1440min), or packet policy (2C+1N, 1C, 1N) and other settings. 

You can see the live and historical data of your devices on both SenseCraft App and SenseCAP Web Portal easily.

When using SenseCAP Sensors and SenseCAP gateways, you can also choose to use SenseCAP cloud platform, which is free for 6 months for each devices and then it is 0.99usd/device/month, or you can choose to use your own platform or other 3rd-party platforms. We offer API supporting MQTT and HTTP.

• Wi-Fi Connectivity for Transmitting Key Frames

Inside the AI Camera part of this device sits a tiny-yet-powerful XIAO ESP32C3, which is powered by new RISC-V architecture. This adds Wi-Fi connectivity to SenseCAP A1102. In the applications, you can get the reference results via LoRaWAN and at the same time get the key frames via Wi-Fi to validate or further analyze.

While we always demonstrate how much we love LoRaWAN for its ultra-low-power consumption and ultra-long-range communication by continuously adding more and more products in the portfolio of our LoRaWAN products family. We also understand some people might prefer other communication protocols. Rest assured, we have options for you. As mentioned above, we value interoperability a lot. Here comes to the intro of another important cast of this post: RS485 Vision AI Camera!

RS485 Vision AI Camera

RS485 Vision AI Camera is a robust vision AI sensor that supports MODBUS-RS485 [Note 2] protocol and Wi-Fi Connectivity. Simply put, it is the camera part of the SenseCAP A1102, which adopts the Himax AI Processor for AI performance. Its IP66 rating makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

You can use RS485 Vision AI Camera with SenseCAP Sensor Hub 4G Data Logger to transmit the reference results via 4G. If your existing devices or systems support MODBUS-RS485, you can connect it with this RS485 Vision AI Camera for your applications.

In this post, we introduced SenseCAP A1102 and RS485 Vision AI Camera. I hope you like them and will get your hands on these devices for your projects soon! I already envision this device used in different applications from smart home, office, and building managetment to smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and many others. And we look forward to seeing your applications!

If you’ve been using Seeed products or following our updates, you might have noticed that the expertise of Seeed products and services is in smart sensing and edge computing. While we’ve developed a rich collection of products in (1) sensor networks that collect different real-world data and transmit via different communication protocols, and (2) edge computing that brings computing power and AI capabilities to the edge. I think we can say that Seeed is strong in smart sensing, communication, and edge computing. 

There are many more new products on the Seeed roadmap for us to get a deeper perception of the world with AI-powered insight and actions. Stay tuned!

Last but not the least, we understand that you might have requirements in product features, functionalities, or form factors for your specific applications, we offer a wide range of customization services based on the existing standard products. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, to share your experience, your thoughts about new products, wishes for new features, or ideas for cooperation possibilities! Reach us at iot[at]seeed[dot]cc! Thank you!

[Note 1: If you do not know it yet, SenseCraft AI is a web-base platform for AI applications. No-code. Beginner-friendly. I joined the livestream on YouTube with dearest Meilily to introduce this platform last week. If you are interested, check the recording here.]

[Note 2: MODBUS RS485 is a widely-used protocol for many industrial applications. You can learn more here about MODBUS and RS485, and you can explore the full range of all RS485 products here.]

Seeed Studio is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Atianza Solutions. This collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge Edge AI solutions to industries across Latin America, advancing innovation and Edge AI solutions in the region.

About Seeed Studio

Seeed Studio, a leading AI hardware partner, has been a leading Open Hardware company since 2008, empowering over half a million direct users to create real-world digital solutions. Through relentless efforts and earned trust, Seeed’s ever-growing product lines now form around emerging AI scenarios like like AI Sensing, AI Robotics, Sensor Networks, and Maker.
Seeed provides industrial-ready modules and devices, and open up the capability of prototype development and production. Innovators from different vertical domains co-create with Seeed to make their creations widely available for diversified markets by embracing open source, community building, and integrated vertical industry solutions together with Seeed.

About Atianza

Atianza is a multidisciplinary team based in the heart of Santiago de Chile with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. With a presence in three countries – Chile, Colombia and Spain – Atianza bridges borders to deliver agile and personalized solutions.

Atianza specializes in:

• Architecture and Engineering
• Design and Usability
• Management and Control

At Atianza, innovation, experience and agility come together to create an alliance towards a more connected and efficient future. It is not just about developing software, but about co-creating solutions that transform and enhance business vision.

The Partnership

Seeed and Atianza join forces to deliver comprehensive Edge AI solutions across Latin America. This partnership combines Seeed’s state-of-the-art hardware and Atianza’s tailored analytics expertise to address diverse market needs.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Distribution of Seeed Studio’s Edge AI devices and development kits. Including:

1. NVIDIA Jetson, the leading platform for robotics and embedded edge AI applications, highlights the Seeed Studio reComputer Industrial J3010– Fanless Edge AI Device with Jetson Orin Nano 4GB

2. Industrial Raspberry Pi devices, highlights the reTerminal DM, a Panel PC, HMI, IIoT Gateway all-in-one device powered by Raspberry Pi

• Customized video analytics and data analytics solutions tailored for industries in Chile, Colombia, and Spain.

Together, Seeed and Atianza aim to create a more intelligent and efficient future for businesses across the region, leveraging their combined strengths in hardware, software, and integration expertise.

Get in touch at support@atianza.com today for a tailored AI solution designed to accelerate your business growth!

The beloved Seeed Studio XIAO boards, with their surface-mount device (SMD) design and Castellated Mounting Holes, have become popular integrated system modules in countless creative designs, projects, and even commercial products. Their board-to-board soldering capability allows XIAO boards to be easily integrated into carrier boards, enabling faster assembly and scalable production.

1: The Zilpzalp Keyboard by Keeb Supply;  2:ANAVI Knobs 3 by Anavi Technology;
3:300A | 80V Smart Shunt by Steve Willson Kujur;  4:ANAVI Dev Mic by Anavi Technology;
5:Smart Key Finder by Hamid Sheibani;   6: 6-Channel Temperature Meter by Gokux;

Since launching our first XIAO SAMD21 (formerly Seeeduino XIAO) in 2019, we’ve received countless community requests for more than the standard 14 castellated mounting holes on two edges, as these weren’t sufficient for complex projects requiring additional IOs. Now, please meet Seeed Studio XIAO Plus – our response to this community feedback.

Inspired by the cool SMD pins design of the RICK TNY, Seeed Studio XIAO Plus represents a new iteration of our regular XIAO Boards, featuring redesigned 23 castellation pins (20 GPIOs, 3 power pins) and back solder points specifically for projects needing expanded IOs. We’re launching XIAO Plus versions for three models: XIAO ESP32S3 Plus, XIAO nRF52840 Plus, and XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus, which are all available for instant order at our webstore and AliExpress Store.

Why only these three XIAOs?

While we’d love to upgrade all XIAO boards, the limited pins on some integrated chips (SAMD21, RP2040, RA4M1, ESP32-C3, and ESP32-C6) restrict the IO expansion. These three models were selected based on overwhelming user demand for additional castellated IOs. Moreover, the XIAO ESP32S3 Plus also doubles its Flash memory to 16MB, supporting more complex applications.

What's new with the back solder points?

Previously, XIAO boards lacked uniformity in their back-side solder points and layouts, hampering our ability to develop universal expansion boards. Our latest XIAO boards (RP2350, RA4M1, MG24 and MG24 Sense) share nearly identical back layouts. The XIAO Plus boards follow suit, with aligned battery and debugger pads.

This standardization means our upcoming expansion boards (such as the XIAO Clip Board) will work with all seven boards (3 XIAO Plus models, XIAO RP2350, RA4M1, and MG24/Sense). We’re actively working on compatibility solutions for other XIAO boards and will share updates once available.

Is XIAO Plus harder to solder?

The through-holes for 7-pin headers remain unchanged, but the castellated mounting holes are slightly smaller and closer together (13 on the left, 10 on the right). While this does make board-to-board soldering more challenging, our 11-person product team successfully tested it with early samples.

We’ll be honest – it requires more precision, but proper tools make a significant difference. Essential items include a brass sponge, water-soluble flux pen, tweezers, acid brush, and rubbing alcohol. For detailed guidance, check out SparkFun’s excellent tutorial on How to Solder: Castellated Mounting Holes.

Join Seeed Studio XIAO Adopter Program

Ready to showcase your soldering skills? Share your XIAO Plus project ideas in the comments! I’ll select three winners to receive their chosen XIAO Plus board (via coupon). Winners will be announced on January 10, 2025. Share now! To assist developers in adapting their projects to the XIAO Plus quickly, we’re adding all the XIAO Plus Boards to the Seeed Studio XIAO Adopter Program. If you’re an author or maintainer of a popular open-source project on GitHub, or an influencer on platforms like YouTube or Tiktok or Instagram, make sure your users can run your code on the XIAO Plus. Join to receive 2 free boards and technical support to make your code compatible with these exciting new boards.

Notes at the end.

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

We are thrilled to introduce our latest collection of Co-create products, launched to enhance user experience and foster creativity. This new collection brings together a diverse range of items, each designed in collaboration with our partners. By incorporating valuable insights and ideas directly from our community, we have created a line-up that truly reflects the needs and desires of our users.

Loko is an advanced, ultra-compact offline GPS tracking system utilizing LoRa (Long Range) radio technology for extended-range communication without cellular infrastructure dependency. This dual-unit system comprises a compact transmitter (30 x 22 mm, 14g) and a receiver, offering precise geolocation services with a 15+ km operational radius.

• Independent Operation: No cellular signal or internet is required, allowing for offline functionality and navigation using pre-downloaded OpenStreetMap areas.

• Comprehensive Tracking Features: Offers accurate metrics such as latitude, longitude, altitude, and speed, with real-time GPS tracking and data logging capabilities.

• Multi-Device and Long-Range Support: Capable of tracking up to 30 air units per ground unit over a tested range of 15+ km, with a battery life of up to a year on a single charge.

• Developer-Friendly and Secure: Open-source design with customizable features, supporting LoRaWAN and LoRa P2P communication, along with AES128 encryption for secure data transmission.

• Durable and Versatile Applications: Rugged, water-resistant design suitable for various uses such as drone recovery, wildlife tracking, and outdoor adventure sports.

Check out here: https://www.seeedstudio.com/Loko-GPS-Tracker-p-6261.html

XIAO PowerBread

XIAO PowerBread is a compact, high-power breadboard supply with built-in monitoring. It offers stable 3.3V and 5V outputs and real-time tracking of voltage, current, and power on its LCD display. Fully compatible with Seeed Studio XIAO dev boards and breadboards, it’s perfect for prototyping with visibility. Fully open-source and actively maintained by the designer, with easy-to-use documentation and customizable code.

Key Features

• Real-Time Monitoring: Integrated LCD display provides instant access to voltage, current, and power metrics, no multimeter needed.
• High-Current Output: Supplies up to 1.5A of stable 3.3V power, making it suitable for a variety of breadboard electronics projects.
• Plug-and-Play Design: Easily connects to standard breadboards for quick prototyping without additional setup.
• Open-Source Compatibility: Works with various Seeed Studio XIAO dev boards, including  XIAO RP2040, XIAO RP2350, XIAO ESP32C3, XIAO ESP32S3, and XIAO ESP32C6(The support for XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RA4M1 will be coming soon). It allows for flexible extensions and customizations.
• Accurate Sensing and Monitoring: Features dual-channel voltage and current sensing, along with precise temperature and humidity readings, ideal for detailed power supply analysis and data logging.

Check out here: https://www.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-PowerBread-p-6318.html

XIAO Logger HAT

This little hat add-on for XIAO incorporates a Sensirion SHT40 temperature and humidity sensor, the BH1750 ambient light sensor, a PCF8563 real-time clock for accurate timekeeping, and an enableable voltage divider to keep track of the battery voltage.

Key Features

• Compact Design: The device has a tiny footprint, making it compatible with all Seeed Studio XIAO microcontroller boards, ideal for space-constrained projects.
• Low Power Consumption: GPIO-powered sensors enable a no-power sleep mode, with the always-on RTC consuming less than 1 µA, suitable for battery-operated data loggers.
• I2C Communication: Supports easy programming using existing libraries and allows for the addition of multiple sensors on the same I2C bus.
• On-Board RTC: Features the PCF8563 chip for accurate timekeeping, essential for long-term data logging, with programmable interrupts for waking from deep sleep.

• Accurate Monitoring and Battery Management: The SHT40 sensor offers precise temperature and humidity readings, while the system allows safe monitoring of battery status through a voltage divider connected to the lithium-ion battery.

Check out here: https://www.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-LOG-p-6341.html

Smart Citizen Kit 2.3

The Smart Citizen Kit 2.3 allows people to easily collect environmental data such as air and noise pollution, visualize it, and share it with the world through the Smart Citizen platform. All this while being completely open source and customizable to your needs. Built by communities for communities.

Key Features

• Multi-Sensor Capabilities: The new SCK2.3 is compatible with the previous SCK2.1. It brings new sensors, more customization, and exciting features that allow anyone to accurately measure and collect better quality data, including UV readings, an improved PM sensor to better measure air quality, along with the classic sensors from the previous SCK2.1: temperature, humidity, noise and light pollution.
• User-Friendly Interface: The SCK2.3 is designed to allow anyone to start measuring in no time, making it accessible for beginners,educators, and researchers alike.
• Open Source Hardware with Customization Options: As with previous versions, the SCK2.3 is fully open source, allowing users to modify and customize its hardware and firmware, tailoring the SCK to meet their specific needs. In addition, Fab Lab Barcelona has a wide range of open-source designs that allow users to 3D print and build their enclosures, recycling them when they are done, and saving some industrial plastic manufacturing in the process.
• Data Sharing and Visualization: Collected data can be uploaded to the Smart Citizen Platform, where users can visualize their findings through easy-to-read graphs. The Smart Citizen Platform is completely open for people to access, making it easy for anyone to play, experiment, and work with environmental data!
• Various data-logging options: The SCK2.3 is designed to publish data using your home or office Wi-Fi and can store data in CSV format on a MicroSD. It also includes an internal memory to store more than a month’s worth of data in case the device loses its Wi-Fi connection. Data is published automatically when the connection is recovered.

Check out here: https://www.seeedstudio.com/Smart-Citizen2-3-p-6327.html

Upcoming product: Mech_hexpod

Mech_hexpod is a hexapod robot developed based on Arduino nano. It uses Atmel328p chip as the main control. It is remote controlled via Bluetooth communication using a mobile phone app/joystick. Mech_hexpod can realise 3 types of modes: Dance, Walk, Stance, and at the same time, each type of mode has 8 different styles.

Key Features

• Arduino-Compatible: Powered by the Atmel328p chip, it supports Arduino programming, allowing easy customization and learning.
• Bluetooth Control: Controlled via a mobile app or external controller using Bluetooth, providing convenient and user-friendly operation.
• Multiple Modes: Offers Dance, Walking, and Combat modes, each featuring various gaits, dance poses, and combat moves for diverse gameplay experiences.
• Durable Servos: Features 12 all-metal MG90S servos, with 2 per leg, ensuring reliable and robust movement stability.
• Expandable and Customizable: Supports UART for easy integration of additional modules, such as voice or image recognition, enhancing expandability and customization options.

The Mech_hexpod is already list on Taobao and will be soon available at the Seeed Studio Bazaar.

Upcoming product: Louder ESP32

Louder-ESP32 combines ubiquitous ESP32 with an I2S DAC with built-in D-class amplifier capable of driving full-size speakers. This combination provides your compact ESP32 module with the necessary memory and RAM capabilities to develop Hi-Fi products.

Key Features

• Powerful Audio Output: Integrates an I2S DAC with a built-in D-class amplifier, capable of driving full-size speakers for high-quality sound.
• Hi-Fi Product Development: Combines the ESP32’s processing power with enhanced memory and RAM, making it suitable for developing Hi-Fi audio applications.
• Compact Design: The Louder-ESP32 maintains a compact form factor while providing robust audio capabilities, ideal for space-constrained projects.
• Versatile Compatibility: Works seamlessly with various ESP32 projects, allowing for easy integration into existing setups.
• Easy Audio Streaming: Supports multiple streaming protocols, enabling straightforward audio playback and streaming capabilities.

It’s worth mentioning that the Louder ESP32 is not only a popular selling product on Tindie but will also soon be available at the Seeed Studio Bazaar.

Co-create with Seeed Fusion

As we celebrate the launch of our new collection of Co-create products, we invite you to join us in this exciting journey. Your insights, creativity, and feedback are invaluable in shaping the future of our offerings. Together, we can create products that truly meet the needs of our community. 

Seeed Fusion is dedicated to elevating your innovative ideas into products and solutions for various verticals. With the full range of open-source modules and industry-grade devices, expertise in product design, experience in production, and resources in glocal community and marketing. We’re your go-to partner from 0 to ∞. Co-Create with Seeed Fusion, you can leverage Seeed’s capabilities in Prototype, Produce, and Promote, ranging from custom design, manufacturing to selling, covering the full product lifecycle from idea to delivery and iteration!

Let’s work together to innovate and develop solutions that resonate with all of us. 

Visit here to learn more about how you can participate in the Co-create! Your voice matters, let’s turn ideas into reality!

Hey XIAO enthusiasts! If you’re one of those dedicated fans who’ve collected all 12 XIAO Dev Boards (as of December 2024), you’ve probably noticed that only the classic XIAO SAMD21 (Seeedduino XIAO) comes in a pre-soldered option. We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear – soldering these thumb-sized boards can be quite challenging!

Great news to freshen the week: We’re thrilled to announce pre-soldered versions across our entire XIAO lineup! Here’s what’s coming:

WiFi & Bluetooth Enabled:

• XIAO ESP32C3
• XIAO ESP32C6 (with Thread, Zigbee, Matter support)
• XIAO ESP32S3
• XIAO ESP32S3 Sense

Bluetooth Solutions (low power consumption too):

• XIAO nRF52840 (NFC)
• XIAO nRF52840 Sense (NFC)
• XIAO MG24 (with Thread, Matter support)
• XIAO MG24 Sense (with Thread, Matter support)

Advanced Microcontrollers:

• XIAO RP2040
• XIAO RP2350
• XIAO RA4M1

Classic Option:

• XIAO SAMD21

Why pre-soldered? Simple! No more fiddling with soldering irons on such tiny soldering pads- just unbox and start creating. These boards are ready to work with all XIAO add-ons (sensors, connectivity modules, actuators, and Grove Expansions) in a quick snap, perfect for breadboard prototyping or direct project integration.

Take our XIAO Starter Kit, for example. Just snap your pre-soldered XIAO onto the Expansion Board, and you’ve instantly got access to over 300 Grove modules plug and play. Perfect for education, rapid prototyping, or anyone who wants to jump straight into their project!

What’s your favorite XIAO board? Which pre-soldered XIAO will you try first? We’d love to hear about your project ideas with these new updates. Comment below to let us know!

P.S. This update comes straight from your feedback through the Seeed Studio XIAO Open Roadmap on GitHub, an open collaborative platform on GitHub where the community decides what we build next (explore more details here). Have more ideas for the XIAO ecosystem? Join the discussion on our open roadmap – we’re always listening!

Notes at the end.

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

From November 23rd to 24th, 2024, the 2nd UIC TrainRail Hackathon Asia-Pacific Regional Competition took place at Southwest Jiaotong University in China. The event attracted over 200 talented students from across the Asia-Pacific region, forming 42 teams to explore solutions for the future of the railway industry. With themes centered on enhancing passenger experience, strengthening freight capacity, and optimizing operational efficiency, the competition brought fresh perspectives and innovative technologies to the sector.

Committed to nurturing innovation and driving industry progress, Seeed Studio was thrilled to support the competition, together with other institutions such as Khon Kaen University in Thailand and Yamanashi University in Japan.

We were happy to provide comprehensive support throughout the competition, including pre-competition technical guidance and a wide range of hardware resources such as XIAO series, Grove sensors, Arduino kits, LoRa E5 modules, and Raspberry Pi modules, etc, empowering participants to rapidly prototype their ideas and overcome technical challenges.

Teams from Southwest Jiaotong University and Shijiazhuang Railway University claimed the top prizes for their exceptional projects. They will represent the Asia-Pacific region at the global finals in April 2025.

Highlights of Winning Projects

Participants showcased a range of innovative projects that directly addressed real-world railway challenges. Notable projects included:

• Railway Wind and Snow Disaster Early Warning and Response System: This system provides real-time monitoring and early warnings for railway operations under adverse weather conditions, enhancing safety and efficiency.
• Automated Barrier-Free Platform System: Designed to improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities, this intelligent platform solution optimizes barrier-free services in railway transportation.
• Contact Network Arc Intelligent Monitoring System: Employing vision and sensor technologies, this system offers an intelligent solution for railway equipment maintenance, significantly improving efficiency and accuracy.
• AI-Powered Real-time Rail Defect Detection: Using AI models to analyze rail conditions in real-time for enhanced safety monitoring.
• Smoke Purification Device for Trains: Improving air quality within train cabins for a more comfortable passenger experience.
• Vibration-Based Railway Construction Personnel Monitoring: Employing vibration wave technology to monitor the dynamic changes in construction environments and enhance worker safety.
• Real-time Monitoring of Load Distribution in Freight Trains: Ensuring the smooth operation and safety of freight trains by monitoring load distribution during transit.
• Computer Vision-Based Pantograph Modal Analysis: Optimizing pantograph monitoring through visual technology to improve the efficiency of electrified railway operations.

The hackathon underscores the vital connection between education, international collaboration, and industry development. Seeed Studio is proud to have been a part of this event and is committed to empowering young innovators to drive the digital transformation of the railway industry.

Congratulation to all participants for their hard work and creativity!

As many of you know, Seeed has always been committed to providing makers with easy-to-use and innovative products, services, and solutions. Over the past year, our partnership with Flux.ai has grown stronger than ever! 

Mind-blowing! Check Out What We've Created

For developers, Flux and Seeed have created a streamlined path from concept to reality. As an AI-driven design tool, Flux accelerates the PCB design process, while Seeed Studio Fusion provides rapid prototyping-PCB manufacturing & assembly services. 

This partnership has already empowered developers to bring their innovative ideas to life. By combining our expertise, we’ve been able to deliver exceptional results and generate significant visibility for these projects.  You can check them on our organization page at Flux!

We hope that our small support will bring significant changes to the areas and causes in need. Inspired by these projects? You’ll love what’s coming next!

LED Remix: Design the Next Generation

In order to invite more developers to co-create with us, we kickstart a campaign called LED Remix: Design the Next Generation!

How to Apply?

Step 1: Please fill out the form to submit your bravo project!

          Each participant is limited to two PCBA boards 100% completely FREE for one design, including PCB fabrication, the cost of parts, assembly, and shipping.

          Free usage of Flux.ai for 2 months

The project must include a LED design and a Xiao module, and use Flux.ai as the design tool

Step 2: After submitting your application, our team will promptly assess your design. Kindly await our team’s contact.

Duration: 12th Dec. 2024- 12th Mar. 2025

By participating in this event, you agree to review your experience with us and allow us to share it and the design with the community on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.).

If you’re currently short on ideas, don’t worry, we’re here to help!  

To provide you with some inspiration, we’ve invited Goku to design two mother projects below, which are designed by Flux.ai and manufactured at Seeed Studio Fusion. 

Feel free to build upon these projects and create your unique designs!

1-Black Myth Wukong-LED Art PCB

It’s inspired by the character Destined One from “Black Myth: Wukong.” For this project, Goku uses 37 tiny pixel LEDs along with the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller, which will program with WLED.

Clone at Flux: https://www.flux.ai/gokux/black-myth-wukong

Detailed Tutorial: https://www.instructables.com/Lets-Make-a-Black-Myth-Wukong-LED-Art-PCB/

2-WLED ON XIAO ESP32

Ready to turn your Xiao ESP32-S3 into a smart lighting controller? WLED is the perfect tool for the job. This open-source web server lets you control both digital and analog LED strips, and even integrate with smart home platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant. Let’s get started!

Clone at Flux: https://www.flux.ai/seeedstudio/wled-rgb-led-driverp

Detailed Tutorial: https://www.instructables.com/WLED-ON-XIAO-ESP32/

Tips: You can find most of the components needed at Flux. If there are any questions during the design process, you can ask for help using the co-pilot. You can also go to Goku’s project file to view his designs, and it is possible to clone his project and make your own changes. We are ready to illuminate and spread your ideas coupled with projects anytime!​

Use the Flux's Auto-layout Feature！

• Step 1: Clone the Project
  
  • Start with a Seeed example project in Flux to avoid designing from scratch.
• Step 2: Customize the Design
  
  • Use Flux’s editor and part library to customize the design, swap components, or add new functionality.
• Step 3: Run the Auto-Layout
  
  • Let Flux’s AI optimize the placement and routing of components, ensuring your design is manufacturable and ready to go.

Auto-Layout uses AI to optimize component placement and routing while considering your design constraints. This ensures the layout is both functional and ready for manufacturing. Whether you’re adjusting an LED configuration or refining a component layout, Auto-Layout simplifies the process, allowing you to focus on your design.

Scale up your Creation with Seeed Studio Co-Create Program!

We will invite well-received LED Remix projects to the Seeed Studio Co-Create Program, where your products can be listed, sold and shipped directly by Seeed on the Seeed Studio Bazaar. We will also support designers to reach thousands of like-minded customers and distributors with Seeed’s global sales channels and social media presence.

Don’t hesitate! It’s a great chance to show off your ideas and skills. Join and fuel your passion now!

With the rapid growth of the smart home market, devices and brands are becoming increasingly diverse. The key to an efficient and seamless smart home experience lies in how these devices communicate effectively and reliably. Among the many communication protocols, Matter, Zigbee, and Thread are the current mainstream options.

It’s important to understand the distinction between protocols and standards in this context. Communication protocols are the underlying technical specifications that define how devices communicate with each other. They outline the rules, formats, and procedures for data exchange. In contrast, standards provide a common framework to ensure interoperability between devices, often by leveraging one or more underlying protocols.

This article will introduce Matter, Zigbee, and Thread, three key technology options in the smart home domain. Matter is an emerging communication standard, while Zigbee and Thread are underlying communication protocols. We will delve into their respective characteristics and provide recommendations for your selection.

Core Parameter Comparison: Matter, Zigbee, and Thread

This table highlights the key differences between Matter, Zigbee, and Thread. It’s worth noting that Zigbee and Thread are underlying communication protocols, while Matter is a cross-platform standard that can utilize technologies like Thread and Wi-Fi.

Zigbee: The Classic Choice for Traditional Smart Home Devices

Advantages of Zigbee

• Low Power Consumption: Extends device battery life, making it ideal for sensors, lighting, and other long-running devices.
• Mesh Networking: Allows devices to relay signals to each other, ensuring wide coverage and reliable connectivity.
• Strong Security: Utilizes AES-128 encryption to safeguard data communication.

Use Cases

• Suitable for small local networks within a home, without complex internet integration.
• Ideal for users who already own a significant number of Zigbee devices.

Recommended Devices:

• Home Assistant SkyConnect / Connect ZBT-1 USB Stick：Plug-and-play USB device for adding Zigbee support to Home Assistant, with future Thread and Matter compatibility. Ideal for easy upgrades.
• Home Assistant Yellow：Pre-integrated Zigbee support, ready out of the box. Perfect for managing Zigbee devices without extra adapters.
• reComputer R Series：Multi-protocol support (4G, LoRa®, Wi-Fi/BLE, Zigbee) with M.2 slots for storage or AI acceleration. Great for advanced developers.
• Tiny Matter-Native Board for Smart Home – XIAO ESP32C6：A versatile microcontroller optimized for Zigbee applications, offering low-power communication. Suitable for developers exploring Zigbee, Thread, or Matter-based smart devices.

Thread: The Communication Protocol for the Future

Advantages of Thread

• Low Latency, High Reliability: Performs well in real-time applications such as voice assistants and live monitoring.
• Self-Healing Mesh Network: Automatically reroutes signals in case of device failure, ensuring network stability.
• IPv6-Based Local Network: Enables seamless device-to-device communication within a local area network. However, internet access requires a border router.

Use Cases

• Suitable for fast-response applications, such as smart speakers and smart locks, that require stable and low-latency communication.
• Ideal for building localized smart home networks where reliability and security are priorities.

Recommended Devices

• Home Assistant SkyConnect / Connect ZBT-1 USB Stick：Adds Thread border routing to Home Assistant with future Matter support. Perfect for enhancing Thread capabilities.
• Home Assistant Yellow：Experimental multi-protocol hub supporting Thread border routing. Ideal for expanding Thread networks and integrating Matter.
• Tiny Matter-Native Board for Smart Home – XIAO ESP32C6：Thread-ready with Matter-over-Thread compatibility. Great for developers building smart locks, cameras, or assistants.

Matter: The Future of Cross-Platform Smart Homes

Advantages of Matter

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Allows devices from different brands to interoperate effortlessly.
• Enhanced Security: Features upgraded device authentication and encryption mechanisms for privacy protection.
• Simplified Setup: Reduces connection and configuration complexity with standardized protocols.

Use Cases

• Perfect for building smart home ecosystems that integrate devices from multiple brands, enabling unified control through Matter.
• Ideal for developers creating smart devices like lighting systems or smart plugs that seamlessly operate across platforms (e.g., Google Nest, Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa).

Recommended Devices

• Seeed Studio XIAO MG24：A compact, low-power microcontroller for Matter over Thread and BLE. Ideal for battery-operated IoT devices.
• Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32 Series:
  • Models: XIAO ESP32C3, XIAO ESP32S3, and XIAO ESP32C6.
  • Based on Espressif’s ESP-IDF (IoT Development Framework), the XIAO ESP32 Series supports Matter device development using robust ESP32 microcontrollers. This series is optimized for IoT development and provides a powerful platform for exploring Matter’s potential. Perfect for developers aiming to create Matter-enabled devices leveraging Wi-Fi, BLE, or Thread capabilities while enjoying the flexibility of ESP-IDF.

How to Choose: Zigbee, Thread, or Matter?

• Choose Zigbee:
  • If you already own many Zigbee devices and don’t need internet integration.
  • Perfect for smart lighting systems or a home sensor network where devices communicate directly within a closed local environment.
• Choose Thread:
  • If you need low-latency, highly reliable devices connected directly to the internet.
  • Ideal for smart locks, real-time cameras, or voice assistants requiring fast responses and stable communication.
• Choose Matter:
  • If you need a future-proof, cross-platform solution with seamless integration.
  • Best for those building a smart home ecosystem from scratch or looking to unify devices from different manufacturers under one protocol.

Future Trends: Will Matter Become the Mainstream?

With growing support from tech giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon, Matter’s ecosystem is expanding rapidly. While Matter’s cross-platform compatibility is a significant advantage, Zigbee and Thread’s established ecosystems will continue to play vital roles in specific scenarios. In the future, these three protocols may coexist, excelling in different applications.

Summary

• Zigbee: Ideal for traditional smart home devices with low power consumption and high stability.
  
• Thread: A modern, IP-compatible solution suitable for IoT applications.
• Matter: The future standard for solving compatibility issues across platforms.

In summary, Zigbee and Thread are underlying communication protocols, while Matter is a higher-level interoperability standard. In practical applications, we need to choose the appropriate underlying protocol based on specific requirements and ensure it supports the Matter standard, in order to achieve a cross-brand smart home ecosystem.

Visit Seeed Studio Bazaar now to explore high-quality hardware supporting Matter, Zigbee, and Thread, and build your ideal smart home effortlessly!