Nordic Semiconductor nRF54L15 platform support for BLE-focused applications.
Hardware Overview
nRF54L15 DK (Development Kit)
Specifications
- CPU: Arm Cortex-M33 @ 128MHz
- RAM: 256KB SRAM
- Flash: 1.5MB
- Bluetooth: BLE 5.4, Thread, Zigbee
- Security: Arm TrustZone, Secure Boot
- Power: Ultra-low power modes
- GPIOs: 32 programmable pins
Why nRF54L15?
- Power efficient — <2 mA active, <1 µA deep sleep
- BLE 5.4 — latest Bluetooth features
- Thread/Zigbee — IoT mesh networking
- Secure — TrustZone, secure boot
- No WiFi — BLE only
- Limited RAM — 1–2 WASM apps max
Getting Started
Purchase Hardware
Requirements:
- nRF54L15 Development Kit
- Micro-USB cable
- Segger J-Link (built-in)
Building Firmware
cd ~/akira-workspace/AkiraOS
./build.sh -b nrf54l15dk_nrf54l15_cpuapp
Flash via J-Link
west flash
Serial Console
picocom -b 115200 /dev/ttyACM0
Configuration
boards/nrf54l15dk_nrf54l15_cpuapp.conf:
# Memory — 256KB RAM total; leave room for kernel and stack
CONFIG_HEAP_MEM_POOL_SIZE=32768
# BLE configuration
CONFIG_BT=y
CONFIG_BT_PERIPHERAL=y
CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME="AkiraOS-nRF54L15"
# IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread/Zigbee)
CONFIG_NET_L2_IEEE802154=y
CONFIG_IEEE802154=y
# Size optimizations for RAM-constrained board
CONFIG_SIZE_OPTIMIZATIONS=y
Max running WASM apps is controlled globally by CONFIG_AKIRA_APP_MAX_RUNNING=2 in prj.conf.
Features
Bluetooth LE
- BLE 5.4 peripheral mode
- Long range (Coded PHY)
- Direction finding
- Periodic advertising
Security
- Arm TrustZone-M
- Secure boot (MCUboot)
- Encrypted flash
- Key storage
Power Management
Ultra-low power modes:
- Active: ~2mA
- Idle: ~1mA
- System OFF: <1μA
Limitations
- No WiFi - BLE connectivity only
- Limited RAM - 256KB (vs 512KB on ESP32-S3)
- Smaller WASM Apps - Max 1–2 concurrent apps
- No PSRAM - Internal SRAM only
Best For: BLE sensors, wearables, battery-powered devices