STEVAL-ALOCKCB integrated solution is engineered for the physical access control market. It enables the development of secure and connected smart access devices tailored for residential, industrial, and commercial environments.
The design targets to minimize system complexity, enhance interoperability, and accelerate time-to-market for developers and OEMs.
A key component of the solution is the Aliro protocol support. Aliro aims to standardize communication between access readers and user devices, ensuring secure credential exchange, privacy-preserving interactions, and future-proof interoperability across ecosystems.
As part of its specification, Aliro defines both the credential exchange format and the transport protocols used to deliver them, including NFC, Bluetooth® LE, and UWB.
This multiprotocol approach enables flexible access, including tap-to-enter with NFC and hands-free entry using Bluetooth® LE or UWB, while ensuring consistent and secure communication across devices and platforms.
At the core of the solution is the STM32WBA65RI microcontroller, a high-performance, ultra-low power device based on the Arm Cortex®-M33 core running at up to 100 MHz. It integrates a complete Bluetooth® LE 6.0 stack, making it ideal for secure wireless communication in access control applications.
The STM32WBA65RI also includes two hardware cryptographic accelerators that supports AES-128/256 including one with DPA, public key accelerator (PKA) with DPA resistance, SHA-256, SHA1, and true random number generator (TRNG). These features allow the device to efficiently implement secure authentication protocols, encrypted communication, and key exchange mechanisms required for modern access control systems.
The hardware-based security offloads cryptographic operations from the CPU, reducing latency and power consumption while ensuring compliance with industry-grade security standards.
NFC technology enables proximity-based authentication, allowing users to access doors and devices with a simple tap. The solution leverages the ST25R300 NFC reader, which supports ISO/IEC 14443 type A/B including higher bit rates, NFC-F (FeliCa™), NFC-V (ISO15693) up to 212 kbps, and NFC‑A/NFC‑F card emulation. It offers reliable tag detection with dynamic power output and low-power wake-up modes, making it well suited for battery-operated access control systems.
To further enhance security, the STEVAL-ALOCKCB integrates the STSAFE-A120 secure element, which provides robust key management and secure provisioning capabilities. STSAFE-A120 ensures that cryptographic keys are stored and handled in a tamper-resistant environment, enabling trusted identity verification and secure credential life cycle management throughout the device’s operational life.
Optionally, the STEVAL-ALOCKCB can integrate Matter over Thread to enable with broader smart home platforms. This allows developers to extend access control functionality into unified smart home environments while maintaining robust security and performance.
To support modularity and hardware scalability, the STEVAL-ALOCKCB includes an expansion connector interface that allows seamless integration of additional I/O controller or communication modules. This connector enables developers to extend functionality—such as adding to door actuation systems, biometric sensors, external secure features like keypad, or additional connectivity options like ultra-wideband (UWB)—without redesigning the core hardware.
