Arrow Electronics, a global technology solutions provider, has played a pivotal role in supporting Bharat Pi, an Indian tech startup, in the design and development of enterprise-grade IoT development boards. These boards aim to provide reliability, quality, and scalability to a multitude of smart and connected devices. Arrow Electronics is at the forefront of guiding innovation for more than 210,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. Having achieved sales of $37 billion in 2022, Arrow is dedicated to developing technology solutions that enhance both business operations and daily life. According to Future Market Insights’ analysis of the IoT device management platform, the demand for such solutions in India is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34% over the next decade. This surge is attributed to the increasing adoption of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in manufacturing, coupled with the rising use of technologies like 5G, AI, and Big Data.
Founded in 2020 by Prabhu Stavarmath, Savitri Patil, and Naveen Gopalkrishna, Bharat Pi is on a mission to expedite IoT development by creating cost-effective development boards. These boards are designed to assist developers, startups, and innovators in transforming their ideas into quick pre-sales demos within hours. Bharat Pi is incubated at the IoT Open Lab in Bangalore, a collaborative initiative between Arrow Electronics and the Software Technology Park of India (STPI). Leveraging Arrow’s global technology suppliers, Bharat Pi recently launched the RedPill STM32G0 series-based development board.
The landscape of enterprise IoT applications, encompassing industry 4.0, remote asset monitoring, healthcare, connected automobiles, and smart cities, demands a vast network of robust and connected edge devices capable of handling significant data collection and processing. Some existing IoT development boards face challenges in accommodating diverse AI or machine learning workflows and often necessitate custom design efforts for prototyping. Prabhu Stavarmath, Chief Business Officer at Bharat Pi, emphasized the need for boards that are easily customizable and versatile, providing flexibility for building rapid pre-sales demos and prototypes across various industry verticals. Arrow’s engineering team has been instrumental in providing essential support, including product knowledge, technical insights, and evaluation, enabling Bharat Pi to accelerate the design and manufacturing of IoT development tools.
The RedPill STM32G0 series-based development board boasts several key features, including full pin access with all 48 pins exposed, simplified programming through a USB to UART Silicon Labs – CP2102 bridge, versatile connectivity with exposed headers for programming and 8-pin headers featuring SPI and UART interfaces, and open-source compatibility with various platforms and development environments. Bharat Pi also offers technical resources and community support to assist developers, hobbyists, startups, and tech enthusiasts.
Bhartendu Mishra, Managing Director of India at Arrow Electronics, highlighted the importance of comprehensive technology competencies in today’s IoT ecosystem, covering product ideation, design, engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing. Arrow, with its global network of technology suppliers and robust capabilities, is well-positioned to offer optimal support to companies like Bharat Pi as they aim to simplify and scale up IoT deployment.
The IoT Open Lab, equipped with advanced engineering equipment and testing modules, has been a valuable resource for startups in the region, supporting them in their innovation journey from idea to prototype to product. Arrow’s experienced vertical segment experts and engineers, specializing in embedded computing, sensing, connectivity, and system integration, are onsite to provide professional advice to innovators and makers.
