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 - <2mA active, <1μA deep sleep
✅ BLE 5.4 - Latest Bluetooth features
✅ Thread/Zigbee - IoT mesh networking
✅ Secure - TrustZone, secure boot
⚠️ No WiFi - BLE only
⚠️ Limited RAM - 2-3 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:
# Reduce memory footprint
CONFIG_HEAP_MEM_POOL_SIZE=131072 # 128KB (not 256KB)
CONFIG_WASM_MAX_INSTANCES=2 # 2 apps (not 4)
# BLE configuration
CONFIG_BT=y
CONFIG_BT_PERIPHERAL=y
CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME="AkiraOS-nRF"
Features
Bluetooth LE
- BLE 5.4 central/peripheral
- 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 2-3 concurrent apps
⚠️ No PSRAM - Internal SRAM only
Best For: BLE sensors, wearables, battery-powered devices