What is Internet of things (IoT) and the best platforms for developing IoT Solutions?
The internet of things is the most revolutionized thing in the past decade and growing exceptionally by combining the best of both programming and device hardware. What is IoT? IoT is an emerging technology that connects billions of smart devices and sensors to the internet in an efficient, secure, and convenient way.
Already 57% of companies have adopted IoT technologies, and this number is likely to grow by 2020. Before making an approach to the building of the IoT solutions just go through the different platforms and tools available on the market.
What is IoT development platform?
Internet of Things allows the companies to build the services that are data-driven, Predictive Analytics, and cloud data processing solutions, and the IoT development platform is like an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which presents a powerful toolkit for developing, deploying, managing the complete end to end IoT applications.
The IoT platform joins devices, smart sensors, and IoT gateways to the cloud. Since IoT operates in many areas, the IoT platform can handle the huge amount of data from devices, sensors, websites, and applications efficiently. The real-time analytics will help in monitoring the network activities.
1. IBM – Watson IoT Platform
The tech giant IBM heavily invested in IoT and built the Watson IoT platform for developing IoT enabled applications, device management, cloud database, and real-time data analytics. It is one of the best strong analytical solutions for cognitive analytics in the Internet of Things. Watson offering low cost and effective solutions for supply chain management and payment processing services. It assists in making business decisions that are purely based on real-time analytics data.
2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS IoT Core is a managed cloud service that allows associated devices to easily and securely communicate with cloud applications and other devices. AWS IoT Core can support the unlimited number of devices and messages and can transfer or pass those messages to AWS endpoints and to other devices reliably and securely. AWS IoT Core allows you to keep track of applications and communicate with all your devices, all the time, even when they’re not connected to the internet.
And also it makes easy to use AWS services like AWS Lambda, Amazon Kinesis, Amazon S3, Amazon SageMaker, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, and Amazon QuickSight, to develop IoT applications that gather, process, analyze and act on data generated by connected devices, without any other requirement to manage any infrastructure. AWS supports all the traditional software development kits (SDKs) like Embedded C, JavaScript, Python, Java, and IoS for application development. The supercharged dedicated servers of AWS has the capability to handle the data from the millions of devices of complex applications. You can check out the following services.
- AWS IoT Core
- Amazon FreeRTOS
- AWS IoT Greengrass
- AWS IoT 1-Click
- AWS IoT Analytics
- AWS IoT Button
- AWS IoT Device Defender
- AWS IoT Device Management
- AWS IoT Events
- AWS IoT SiteWise
- AWS IoT Things Graph
- AWS Partner Device Catalog
3. Google Cloud IoT
Google Cloud IoT is a complete set of tools to connect, process, store, and analyze data both at the edge and in the cloud. The platform consists of scalable, fully-managed cloud services; an integrated software stack for edge/on-premises computing with machine learning capabilities for all your IoT needs.
Accelerate business agility and decision making with IoT data
Gain real-time business insights from globally dispersed devices, at the edge or in the cloud, with comprehensive services from Google Cloud IoT. Device data captured by Cloud IoT Core gets published to Cloud Pub/Sub for downstream analytics.
Improve operational efficiency
Discover how efficiently your devices operate, manage global assets, and carry out firmware updates on Google Cloud IoT platform. The platform supports a wide variety of embedded operating systems, works seamlessly with Debian Linux OS, and provides out-of-the-box support for devices from leading manufacturers like Intel and Microchip.
Enhance your IoT solution with location intelligence
Make your business location-aware with the power of Google Maps. Visualize where assets are located in real time, where they’ve traveled, and how often they’ve moved
4. Microsoft Azure IoT
The Azure Internet of Things (IoT) is a group of Microsoft-managed cloud services that connect, monitor, and control billions of IoT assets. In simpler terms, an IoT solution is made up of one or more IoT devices and one or more back-end services running in the cloud that communicate with each other. Azure IoT is a Center for developers to create applications, manage devices remotely, and analyze data in real-time. It has the flexibility to operate with multiple operating systems and platforms.
Azure cloud platform uses Microsoft Visual Studio SDK which is familiar to most of the developers. In addition, Azure on the top IoT platform list for integration with other cloud solutions and web applications.
5. ThingWorx IoT Platform
ThingWorx also an emerging IoT platform offers solutions with cost-effective, reduced risk, and reduced development time. It has a flexible solution for deployment with complete application design, run-time, and intelligence environment.
ThingWorx claims faster development, integration, and deployment for multiple IoT solutions. It gives flexibility and scalability for future developments and upgrades.
6. HP Enterprise Universal IoT Platform
With HPE’s Universal IoT platform, customers can connect to a strong system with scalability, modularity, and versatility. It allows customers to monetize from the massive data collected from millions of devices and smart sensors across different areas of applications. Secure monetization, simultaneous management, accurate data analytics, built-in application designer and marketplace, and cross-vertical operations are the key features of the HPE Universal IoT platform.
7. Predix IoT Platform
Predix is one of the new IoT platforms from Apple and GE which primarily designed for industrial IoT and provides tools for software development. It allows customers and business partners to develop and manage their IoT devices and solutions. Predictive maintenance is one of the most important factors in industrial operation. Predix can efficiently analyze data, intelligently predicts, and inform the control center to take necessary steps to avoid any critical events.
8. Cisco IoT Platform
Cisco IoT platform provides simple and secure solutions for IoT with network connectivity, data analytics, application enablement, management, and automation. It promises a secure platform to connect millions of devices from different geographical areas effectively. It can support industrial automation, power management, smart city, and transportation system.
9. Samsung ARTIK
Samsung has recently launched its development solution for Internet of Things applications. It provides a wide range of modules to connect with IoT products from simple sensors to complex hubs. Miniaturized solution for multiple applications is one of the top features of ARTIK modules.
Other IoT platforms
Raspberry Pi 2, Intel’s Galileo, Apple’s HomeKit, Qualcomm’s IoT development kit, Analog device’s Connect are other IoT development platforms for connected devices.
Conclusion
According to predictions, billions of new smart devices and sensors will be connected to the internet in the coming years. It requires an efficient, secure, and cost-effective platform to develop, deploy and manage a wide variety of applications for industries, smart cities, home automation, connected cars, medicine & healthcare, smart farming, logistics and supply chain management, etc… Technology advancements in wireless transmission, data encryption, and network protocol will ensure a secure and smart IoT network for the future.
