en.Wedoany.com Reported - Semtech has released the fourth-generation LoRa Plus™ chip LR2021, supporting a 2.6 Mbps data rate and multi-protocol communication, providing higher data processing capabilities for AI-driven IoT devices. Shahar Feldman, Senior Director of Product Marketing for LoRa Integrated Circuits at Semtech, introduced how LoRa Plus™ technology addresses the challenges of long battery life and long-range coverage in AI-enabled IoT deployments. Since the launch of the first-generation LoRaWAN chip in 2013, LoRa technology has evolved through multiple generations. The second-generation chip reduced power consumption by half, enabling battery-powered water and gas meters to operate for 15 years over ultra-long distances. The third-generation LoRa Edge product introduced positioning and proximity sensing capabilities. Currently, over 450 million LoRa-enabled devices are in use worldwide.

The LR2021, the first chip of the fourth-generation LoRa Plus platform, adopts fourth-generation LoRa IP, supporting terrestrial and satellite communication networks, covering sub-GHz, 2.4 GHz ISM bands, and licensed S-band, while being backward compatible with LoRaWAN devices.

Key technical features of the LR2021 include: FLRC high-speed communication mode supporting data rates up to 2.6 Mbps, enabling audio and image transmission; a single chip compatible with multiple protocols such as LoRaWAN, Amazon Sidewalk, Meshtastic, wM-Bus, Wi-SUN FSK, and Z-Wave; sensitivity improved by 4.5 dB compared to the SX1262 in the sub-GHz band, reaching -142 dBm at SF12/125 kHz; high integration design reducing BOM cost, PCB footprint, and power consumption, supporting a single-switch front-end design for multi-region operation; transmit power range from +22 dBm to -10 dBm.

Application scenarios for LoRa Plus technology span multiple IoT domains. In smart utilities, water and gas meters can support complex monitoring and predictive maintenance while maintaining a battery life of over ten years. In smart buildings, air conditioning systems, lighting controls, and air quality monitors can perform local AI processing and transmit rich data. In industrial IoT, sensors can analyze vibration patterns, thermal characteristics, and acoustic features for predictive maintenance. Security systems support edge AI applications such as gunshot detection, glass break sensing, license plate recognition, and fall detection. In smart homes, Amazon Ring sensors will soon be globally available based on LoRa technology.

Shahar Feldman stated that the LR2021 addresses key connectivity challenges in AI-driven deployments of all scales, thereby transforming IoT connectivity. Whether for European utilities requiring LoRaWAN and wM-Bus, North American utilities needing LoRaWAN and Wi-SUN FSK, or security systems and smart home applications requiring long-range LoRa connectivity and protocols like Z-Wave, this single-chip solution simplifies complexity and enhances performance.

As part of Semtech's LoRa Connect product portfolio, the LR2021's multi-PHY support ensures backward compatibility with legacy devices and provides cost-effective support for a variety of applications through high integration.