STMicroelectronics STEVAL-MKI230KA

Overview

STEVAL-MKI230KA from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation kit for the ISM330IS 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) featuring a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, and embedded Intelligent Sensor Processing Unit (ISPU). It includes the STEVAL-MKI230A sensing board with centered ISM330IS in DIL24-compatible layout, STEVAL-MKIGIBV5 adapter board, and flat cable interconnect - enabling direct sensor placement in target mechanical environments. Designed for rapid prototyping of AI-enhanced motion sensing in industrial robotics.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-MKI230KA datasheet, STEVAL-MKI230KA pinout, STEVAL-MKI230KA application, or STEVAL-MKI230KA equivalent, this kit delivers ready-to-use hardware integration with MEMS Studio GUI support, full ISM330IS signal routing, and compatibility with STM32-based STEVAL-MKI109V3/STEVAL-MKI109D platforms for algorithm development and real-time sensor data streaming.

Technical Context

The STEVAL-MKI230KA implements a modular two-board architecture: the square STEVAL-MKI230A hosts the ISM330IS IC with decoupling capacitors (1 µF + 100 nF on VDD, 100 nF on VDDIO) and exposes all 24 pins via edge headers; the STEVAL-MKIGIBV5 provides level-shifting, interrupt routing (INT1/INT2), and I²C/SPI interface bridging to host microcontrollers. Signal integrity is maintained via dedicated GND planes and controlled trace routing per DB4703 schematic.

It supports both I²C (SCL/SDA) and SPI (CS/SCL/SDA/SDO/SCX/SDX) communication modes with configurable voltage domains (VDD = 1.71–3.6 V, VDDIO = 1.71–3.6 V), and enables ISPU firmware deployment through standard ST programming interfaces. The DIL24 socket compatibility allows direct substitution testing of ISM330IS in legacy carrier designs.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-MKI230KA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial robot motion calibration, predictive maintenance sensor validation, and edge AI inference prototyping requiring stable component supply and rapid MEMS algorithm iteration.

Supply support for STEVAL-MKI230KA includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, sensors, power ICs, and analog/mixed-signal devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This kit belongs to ST's professional MEMS evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate development of intelligent motion sensing systems using ST's ISPU-enabled IMUs and MEMS Studio no-code AI toolchain.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-MKI230KA include the ISM330IS sensor pre-soldered?

Yes. The ISM330IS is permanently soldered at the geometric center of the STEVAL-MKI230A board, with optimized mechanical symmetry and thermal mass distribution to minimize measurement drift during dynamic operation. No user assembly or rework is required - the board ships fully populated and tested per DB4703 Rev 3.

Can STEVAL-MKI230KA operate standalone without STEVAL-MKI109V3 or STEVAL-MKI109D?

No. The kit lacks an on-board microcontroller or USB interface; it requires connection to either STEVAL-MKI109V3 or STEVAL-MKI109D (or compatible STM32 Nucleo with X-NUCLEO-IKS02A1) to provide power, communication bridging, and MEMS Studio connectivity. The flat cable and JP1/JP2 headers are designed exclusively for that interface.

What software tools are supported for ISPU firmware deployment on STEVAL-MKI230KA?

MEMS Studio v2.0+ is the official ST tool supporting visual AI model deployment, ISPU firmware generation, and real-time sensor data visualization. It runs on Windows and communicates via the host evaluation board's virtual COM port, using ST's standardized sensor driver stack and ISPU runtime libraries documented in AN5632 and UM2712.

Is the STEVAL-MKIGIBV5 adapter board sold separately?

No. STEVAL-MKIGIBV5 is only supplied as part of the complete STEVAL-MKI230KA kit (P/N STEVAL-MKI230KA) and is not offered as a standalone orderable item. Its schematic (Figure 1, DB4703) and BOM are publicly available, but ST does not distribute it individually through distribution channels or e-commerce platforms.