DFRobot Gravity Series Provides Open-Source Hardware Modules

March 19, 2021

DFRobot has highlighted new open-source hardware modules as part of its Gravity series. With more than 300 standardized modules, including expansion boards, sensors, actuators, functional modules and kits, DFRobot aims to help users of any skill level to connect and mix to realize ideas or develop projects. More than 1 million developers have used the Gravity series in a broad range of applications, including AI, environmental monitoring, smart homes and IoT, the company said.

Here are some examples of some of the Gravity modules:

• The Gravity for Artificial Intelligence modules includes the HuskyLens, an easy-to-use, powerful AI vision sensor designed to expand the interactivity of technology creations. Based on the Kendryte K210 SoC with a dual-core RISC-V 64-bit processor, it is designed with AI applications in mind. The time-saving device has several built-in algorithms that allow creators to make projects without previous algorithmic knowledge, DFRobot said. The HuskyLens is driven by image processing algorithms and is constantly learning new objects, faces, and colors at the click of a button.
• The Gravity: Speech Synthesis Module, based on a highly integrated XFS5152CE speech synthesis chip, can utilize any Chinese, English and mixed Chinese and English text with dynamic control of speech and voice characteristics. Each time the amount of text synthesis can reach up to 4k bytes, the company said. Supporting I2C and UART communication protocols, the module is compatible with most main controllers, including Arduiino, micro:bit.
• Environmental monitoring: Gravity series modules can measure water quality covering the pH value, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity. It can detect various gases, including methane and carbon monoxide, as well as smoke sensing. Examples include the Gravity: Analog pH meter V2, the KnowFlow Basic Kit, Analog CO2 Gas Sensor, and Gravity: Oxygen Sensor. The company also includes several soil moisture sensors as part of its offering.
• IoT functional modules: The Gravity Wi-Fi IoT module supports multiple programming platforms such as MakeCode, Mind+, and Arduino IDE, and can be used on various IoT platforms such as Easy IoT, IFTTT, ThingSpeak, and Social IoT (SIoT). It supports UART and I2C communication protocols and can be used to build IoT projects with other mainboards like the micro:bit, Arduino, and STM32, among others. The Gravity UART OBLOQ Module is a Wi-Fi-to-serial device aimed at non-professional developers, supporting standard MQTT protocol IoT services such as Microsoft Azure IoT. The module lets you quickly build IoT applications without having to know IoT technology.

Founded in 2008, Shanghai, China-based DFRobot provides robotics and open-source hardware. The company has a product catalog with more than 2,000 electronics components, including sensors, robotic platforms, and communication modules.

To check availability on any of these Gravity modules, click here.