Texas Instruments™ CC13x2 and CC26x2 devices are part of the SimpleLink™ microcontroller (MCU) platform. Zigbee based applications can be developed on these devices using the TI Z-Stack included with the SimpleLink™ CC13x2 and CC26x2 software development kit (SDK). This SDK includes everything needed to develop Zigbee certifiable solution including tools, application examples, documentation and source code. It uses Zigbee 3.0, the latest specification from the Zigbee Alliance which unifies former application segments under a common certification process. The following sections intend to give users an overview of all of the new features introduced in the Zigbee 3.0 specification.
At the core of Zigbee 3.0 is the Zigbee PRO 2017 (R22). Note that previously Zigbee Pro 2015 (R21) was required for Zigbee 3.0, which has now been replaced with the newer Zigbee Pro 2017 (R22) specification. Older implementation based on the R21 specification are still compatible with the new R22 specification.
The Zigbee PRO Specification adds child device management, improved security features, and new network topology options to Zigbee networks. Commissioning devices into networks has also been improved and made more consistent through Base Device Behavior (BDB). Zigbee 3.0 furthermore requires Green Power Basic Proxy v1.1.1 functionality in all devices to further support Green Power capabilities and compiles all profile clusters into a single specification, Zigbee Cluster Library (ZCL) v7. Finally, it formalizes common Zigbee device application architecture nomenclature, expands on the Zigbee Lighting & Occupancy Device Specification, and comments towards Zigbee 3.0 certification. The following sections address each of these attributes.