Renesas dives into the Internet of Things fray with its Synergy platform

Renesas Electronics is launching a platform to accelerate the development of low-cost Internet of Things applications.

The Renesas Synergy platform is one more example of a big electronics company — in this case, a Japanese chip maker — creating its own platform that enables hardware, software, and services that deliver the Internet of Things (IoT), which makes everyday objects smarter and connected to the Internet. In this crowded market, rivals include everyone from Intel to Qualcomm. They’re all chasing an expected $1.7 trillion IoT market by 2020, according to market researcher IDC.

Hoping to sell more chips, Renesas has created its own software and applications programming interface (API) to reduce the time it takes to get IoT applications out. It also reduces costs and removes many of the obstacles that engineers face as they design new apps, the company said.

Customers who use the platform will be able to reduce the time they spend writing low-level drivers and other software to make IoT applications work, said Ali Sebt, senior vice president at Renesas, in a statement. These applications often consist of sensors, microcontrollers, software, and other devices.

The platform can be used to create apps with a wide spectrum of performance, power usage, safety, security, cryptography, connectivity, and graphics capabilities. The family provides customers a variety of choices to meet their requirements for IoT designs ranging from low-end battery-powered products to complex communication and user interface hubs, Renesas said.

The first products using the platform are expected to debut in the fourth quarter. Renesas was formed in 2010 by the merger of the chip divisions of NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology.

Above: Renesas Internet of Things platform.

Image Credit: Renesas