Getting started with IoT

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2 Microcontrollers, edge and embedded computing A microcontroller is an integrated chip that contains a processor (CPU), memory and interfaces to communicate with sensors. These are typically used in IoT devices. A processor acts as the brain of the IoT device. Depending on the application, this can simply read the sensor data and pass it to the communications module, or it can perform more powerful edge processing tasks. A microcontroller provides the ability to: • Interface with one or more sensors and extract the data • Control something, e.g., switch or unlock an item such as a valve or a fan • Perform processing on this data • Transmit this data over a wired or wireless network • Receive instructions over the network from the application and execute these instructions. • Control power consumption of the IoT device The responsibilities required of the microcontroller will depend on the nature of the project. It is the role of a firmware engineer to develop the necessary firmware of the microcontroller so it can carry out the tasks required. Return to a sleeping state Listen for any incoming instructions from the application and execute these if found Remain in a sleeping state most of the time to conserve battery life 8 1 Edge node process flow 7 Wake from a sleeping state for an event or an alarm 2 6 Interface with the communications module to send the data packet over the network 3 5 Take readings (data) from a sensor(s) 4 If required, carry out some form of processing on this data Package the data into a format suitable for sending over the communications network Criteria for microcontroller choice • Power consumption: Effective performance and long battery life at the lowest possible cost. • Ability to support any interfaces required by the application. • Performance need: IoT devices typically use low performance microprocessors (sleeping most of the time). If more pre-processing of the data is required, a mid-range performance microcontroller will be needed. • Onboard memory component requirement: If it is more useful to log data in batches and only send at an appropriate time or when there is a signal, onboard memory components will allow the developer to store records of data that will remain when the device is powered down. • The preference of the development environment. • Package size, reliability and ease of replacement • Required functionality of software and technical support from vendor. Choosing a development platform Microcontroller manufacturers offer hardware development platforms for their devices. These electronic boards allow engineers to quickly develop firmware for their products without first having to develop any hardware. They also provide a good example of the hardware required to support the device. This can help the hardware engineer when it comes to designing a custom board. Vendors will often provide source schematics and PCB layout files (Altium, OrCad, Eagle) to aid the development of custom/bespoke hardware and shorten time to market. For devices designed with IoT in mind, their development platforms will often include various sensors integrated directly on to the board, as manufacturers expect most engineers will use their device to integrate with sensors. Development boards are constantly evolving to include the latest technology, especially in a rapidly evolving IoT market. Some examples of popular development platforms are: • Thunderboard Sense 2 • MangOH • Arduino & Shields • Particle.io • Raspberry Pi • ESP32 & ESP8266 • MSP430 • STM32 family When developing commercial hardware, products must have the relevant approvals and certification (EMC, safety, radio) in place before being offered for sale. 15
Edge computing Edge computing moves data analysis from the cloud down to the device itself and allows some or all of the data to be processed real-time and locally – i.e., at the actual source, on the device. Edge computing is driven by improvements in power-efficient processing which enables complex data processing on small, battery-operated devices. This increased intelligence at the edge is starting to enable machine learning and artificial intelligence applications on IoT devices. Intelligent edge IoT devices will enable many new opportunities for companies developing IoT applications. Low latency The round-trip time from the sender to the receiver to process is significantly reduced Bandwidth Avoids network bottlenecks Closed loop systems Onboard processing can adjust the system in real time to achieve optimum performance Benefits of Edge processing Cost Less data is transmitted so costs are lower Privacy Data is processed at the device so the application can control what data to send, potentially improving privacy Robust Offline so more robust without cloud dependence 3 Communications, networking and wireless technologies Connectivity and networking describe the (often) wireless technology used to transfer information from the sensors/ end nodes to the cloud. To connect and talk to each other, all IoT devices need connectivity. There is a wide range of wireless technologies that enable this connectivity, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right technology will ensure the IoT application runs smoothly, at the lowest cost, and with the best power efficiency. Some wireless technologies existed pre-IoT, whereas some have been designed specifically for it, but all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Criteria for wireless technology choice • Range • Power consumption • Data rate • Module cost • Connectivity cost • One/two-way data transfer • Compatibility • Global coverage • Ecosystem requirements High Satellite Range LoRaWan Sigfox LPWAN NB-IoT Cat-M1 Cellular 3/4/5G RFID Zigbee Blue tooth Wi-Fi Low NFC Low Data rate High 16
Page 1 and 2: Getting started with IoT Exploring
Page 3 and 4: Integrating IoT IoT is here and it
Page 5 and 6: The road to IoT From M2M to IoT Whi
Page 7 and 8: IoT in action Since 2016, multiple
Page 9 and 10: People flow Challenge: Counting and
Page 11 and 12: Industrial IoT (IIoT) You will also
Page 13 and 14: Emerging business models Data optim
Page 15: 1 Sensors As the ‘data gatherers
Page 19 and 20: Protocols LoRaWAN: LoRaWAN is desig
Page 21 and 22: Implementing IoT The most successfu
Page 23 and 24: Glossary TERM MEANING Actuator Appl

Getting started with IoT

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