Wearable

ST has revealed the ISM6HG256X, a tiny three-in-one motion sensor for data-hungry industrial IoT applications, serving as an additional catalyst for edge AI advancement. This smart IMU sensor uniquely combines simultaneous detection of low-g (±16g) and high-g (±256g) accelerations with a high performance and stable gyroscope within a single compact package, ensuring no critical event—from subtle motion or vibrations to severe shocks—is ever missed.

The ISM6HG256X addresses the growing demand for reliable, high-performance sensors in industrial IoT applications such as asset tracking, worker safety wearables, condition monitoring, robotics, factory automation, and black box event recording. By integrating accelerometer with dual full-scale ranges, it eliminates the need for multiple sensors, simplifying system design and reducing overall complexity. Its embedded edge processing and self-configurability support real-time event detection and context-adaptive sensing, which are essential for long lasting asset tracking sensor nodes, wearable safety devices, continuous industrial equipment monitoring, and automated factory systems.

Edge AI is a crucial driver for ST’s MEMS activity as it boosts performance and efficiency by enabling real-time data processing on the device, reducing latency and energy use. It enhances privacy and security through local data handling, limits reliance on external processing, and provides scalability and flexibility for various applications. Additionally, edge AI supports innovative uses like advanced sensing and IoT integration, aligning with growing demand for smart, connected devices.

The ISM6HG256X contains the unique machine-learning core (MLC) and finite state machine (FSM), together with adaptive self-configuration (ASC) and sensor fusion low power (SFLP). These features bring edge AI directly into the sensor to autonomously classify detected events, ensuring real-time, low-latency performance and ultra-low system power consumption. This embedded technology can reconstruct signal dynamics to provide high-fidelity motion tracking. Thanks to the embedded SFLP algorithm, also 3D orientation tracking is possible with just few µA of current consumption.

ST’s new X-NUCLEO-IKS5A1 industrial expansion board with MEMS Studio design environment and software libraries, X-CUBE-MEMS1, are available to assist developers, helping implement functions including high-g and low-g fusion, sensor fusion, context awareness, asset tracking, and calibration.

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