Column: MCUs


Figure 1: Smart devices are now also finding their usefulness in agriculture (Source: Prathankarnpap/stock.adobe.com)


Is the need for distributed intelligence


increasing demand for 8-bit MCUs?


By Mark Patrick, Technical Content Director, Mouser Electronics W


hen it comes to 8-bit micro- controller units (MCUs), certain


characteristics like low-power consumption, affordability and simplicity make them central in a host of devices for automotive, industrial, medical and consumer electronic


10 June 2024 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


systems, among many others. And since everything is becoming digital and interconnected, many assume that the simplicity of 8-bit MCUs would limit their application in complex designs. However, the push for widespread and distributed intelligence in many sectors is opening opportunities for effective yet less-complicated solutions. Interconnectivity, along with lower


power consumption and smaller component sizes, brings processing to the edge, which fits the 8-bit MCU perfectly.


Feature-packed While there are still many feature- packed products that require mains- power supplies, the popularity of compact battery-powered IoT devices has surged in recent years, fuelled by consumer demand for smarter devices. Proximity sensors for security


and home automation systems and temperature and humidity sensors for intelligent climate control are just some examples. Unlike many earlier IoT devices, these solutions are compact, energy-efficient and nowadays most likely powered by batteries, requiring only minimal processing power. In general, they transfer limited quantities of data to a central hub or the cloud, making them a suitable choice for using 8-bit MCUs. Smart cities are another example


where low-powered IoT nodes are needed to report data about air quality, traffic density and infrastructure health. Here, too, 8-bit MCUs are a perfect fit.


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