Zephyr
Run Zephyr® on Ameba Devices
Zephyr® Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
Zephyr RTOS is a real-time operating system optimized for Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded applications. Combining its deep expertise in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Ameba actively contributes to the open-source community, enabling every Ameba-based device to achieve efficient and secure interconnectivity driven by Zephyr. On the Ameba platform, you can experience high synergy between software and hardware, easily building the next generation of smart devices.
Zephyr RTOS is licensed under Apache 2.0 and hosted by the Linux Foundation, boasting a globally active developer community. It introduces the Kconfig configuration system and DeviceTree (DTS) hardware description language, bringing a Linux-like modern development experience to embedded development. This balances system flexibility with development efficiency, significantly lowering the learning curve.
Designed for commercial productization, providing LTS (Long Term Support) versions to ensure lifecycle maintenance. The system features built-in MCUboot secure boot, complying with PSA security architecture standards; code follows MISRA-C guidelines and undergoes strict automated testing via Twister, ensuring enterprise-grade code quality and security.
Zephyr supports mainstream architectures like ARM and RISC-V, achieving complete decoupling of upper-layer applications from underlying hardware through standardized HAL interfaces. Ameba deeply adapts to the Zephyr ecosystem, providing a BSP (Board Support Package) including native drivers. Developers can reuse code across platforms with almost no changes to application logic, significantly improving portability and development experience.
Zephyr natively integrates the industry's most comprehensive protocol stacks and middleware. It not only supports mainstream IoT protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Thread, and Zigbee but also includes a built-in USB device stack and the LVGL graphics library. This one-stop "connectivity + interaction" capability meets diverse development needs, from smart home gateways to HMI devices with screens.
Software Components & Features
Zephyr is a new generation open-source real-time operating system (RTOS) designed specifically for resource-constrained embedded devices. Its key feature is a highly modular architecture that supports kernel-level functional component tailoring on demand. By introducing a standardized Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), Zephyr successfully decouples upper-layer applications from underlying hardware, greatly enhancing cross-platform compatibility and portability efficiency. The Ameba team is committed to embracing the open-source ecosystem and continuously deepening its investment in and support for the Zephyr project. Currently, the official Realtek repository has taken the lead in integrating chips such as the RTL8721F and RTL8721Dx, with code already merged into the mainline. Moving forward, we will steadily advance our adaptation plan to achieve full Zephyr ecosystem coverage for the entire Ameba product series.
Relying on Zephyr's comprehensive ecosystem, the development experience on the Ameba platform will take a qualitative leap. Developers can directly utilize unified and standardized APIs to access underlying hardware resources. These APIs have undergone rigorous verification through automated test cases, fully guaranteeing interface correctness and system stability. Furthermore, developers can seamlessly call upon mature third-party libraries (such as the LVGL graphics library and mbedTLS security library) and feature-rich subsystem components (including full-stack network protocols, file systems, and MCUmgr firmware upgrades) without delving into tedious underlying driver details. This allows you to focus your energy on core business logic innovation, significantly improving development efficiency and final product quality.
Zephyr RTOS
Ameba HAL
MCUboot
Connectivity
Get Started with Zephyr
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SDK Download (Ameba Latest Implementation) | Link |
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Github Source Code (Zephyr Official) | Link |
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Technical Documentation | Link |
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Contact Us | Link |
Recommended ICs
| Features | Filter | RTL8721Dx | RTL8720E | RTL8710E | RTL8726E | RTL8713E | RTL8730E | RTL8721F | RTL872xD | RTL8735B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processor |
Cortex-M | Cortex-M | Cortex-M | Cortex-M | Cortex-M | Cortex-A | Cortex-M | Cortex-M | Cortex-M | |
| DSP | ||||||||||
| ISP | ||||||||||
| Arm TrustZone | ||||||||||
| Dual Band | ||||||||||
| Wi-Fi 6 | ||||||||||
| R-MESH | ||||||||||
| Ultra-low Power | ||||||||||
| Ethernet | ||||||||||
| BT Dual Mode | ||||||||||
| HMI | ||||||||||
| Audio ADC | ||||||||||
| Audio DAC | ||||||||||
| SDIO Host | ||||||||||
| SD/EMMC Host | ||||||||||
| USB | ||||||||||
|
BT Dedicated Antenna |
||||||||||
| A2C |
Peripheral Support Table
| Peripheral/Subsystem | RTL8721Dx | RTL8721F |
|---|---|---|
| UART | ✅ | ✅ |
| I2C | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| SPI | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Flash | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Wi-Fi | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Bluetooth | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| GPIO | ✅ | ✅ |
| PINCTRL | ✅ | ✅ |
| Clock Control | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| DMA | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| TIMERS (Counter) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| PWM | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| RTC | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| WATCHDOG | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| ADC (Input) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| TRNG (entropy) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| LCD | WIP | ✔️ |
| LVGL | WIP | ✔️ |
| ETH MAC (RMII) | N/A | ✔️ |
| A2C | N/A | ✔️ |
| I2S | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Audio (DMIC) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| LEDC | ✔️ | N/A |
| Thermal (sensor) | N/A | ✔️ |
| LOW POWER | WIP | WIP |
| USB | Community | Community |
| SDHC | N/A | ✔️ |
| SDIO (slave) | WIP | WIP |
| Secure Boot | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| FLASH Encryption | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| MCUBOOT | WIP | ✔️ |
| OTA (MCUmgr) | WIP | ✔️ |
Legend:
- ✅: Merged into Zephyr official repository
- ✔️: Supported in AIoT repository, ready to merge into official repository
- Community: Ameba custom implementation, awaiting community update
- WIP: Not yet Supported
- N/A: Not supported by this device
