Sfera Labs Unveils Iono RP: A Raspberry Pi RP2040‑Powered Industrial I/O Module

Sfera Labs has announced the Iono RP, the world’s first industrial I/O module built around the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. The device marries the familiar, plug‑and‑play ethos of Raspberry Pi with robust, industrial‑grade analog and digital interfaces, making it CE, FCC, and IC compliant and ready for both factory floors and smart homes.

At its core, Iono RP houses the RP2040, Raspberry Pi’s inaugural high‑performance MCU designed for both hobbyists and industrial users. The chip delivers a dual‑core Arm Cortex‑M0+ running up to 133 MHz, 264 kB of internal RAM, and a highly configurable I/O architecture that supports a wide range of peripherals.

Designed for versatility, Iono RP accepts a 12‑24 V power input and offers power‑relay outputs. It supports industry‑standard 0‑10 V and 4‑20 mA analog inputs, a 0‑10 V analog output, multiple digital I/O lines, and an RS‑485 serial interface. All of this is housed in a compact DIN rail chassis, ready for immediate integration into control cabinets and automation systems.

True to its open‑platform philosophy, Sfera Labs builds its products on community‑driven technologies such as Raspberry Pi and Arduino. The Iono RP leverages the extensive RP2040 ecosystem, complete with powerful development tools, comprehensive documentation, and a thriving online community.

Developers can program the Iono RP using MicroPython or C/C++, and can deploy code via the built‑in mass‑storage bootloader over USB. The module’s 16 MB internal flash accommodates complex application logic, while an on‑board EERAM chip stores persistent data without wearing out the flash.

Optional features include a battery‑backed real‑time clock, a secure element chip for encryption and certificate storage, and an factory‑installed earthquake sensor that can trigger safety‑related actions during seismic events.

By adopting the RP2040 development ecosystem, engineers can use Iono RP as a foundation for innovative automation and control solutions. All firmware libraries are open source and freely available on GitHub, accelerating time‑to‑market and fostering community collaboration.

Open Source Fuels Security and Reliability

In a recent interview with embedded.com, Maria Chizzali, COO of Sfera Labs, highlighted how open platforms enhance security, reliability, and cost efficiency. “With a proprietary system, any change requires a new release or model. Open platforms let the community address issues rapidly, often without new firmware,” she explained.

Chizzali added that open platforms reduce maintenance costs and accelerate prototyping. “Proprietary solutions lock projects behind scarce, expensive expertise, whereas open ecosystems provide a broad talent pool ready to help evolve your design.”

Founder Giampiero Baggiani echoed this sentiment, noting that cryptographic security thrives on transparency: “A secure platform is one that is publicly auditable, not proprietary.”