IOT Hardware: Components for you next GATEWAY OR device
Home automation products, smart appliances, office equipment, and even your car… they’re all becoming smarter and more connected. These devices all started as good ideas that led to unique IoT projects, and now IoT products are responsible for changing modern life. For many embedded developers, creating new IoT projects that become massively popular may be just the beginning of an entirely new IoT ecosystem.
If you’ve got a great idea for a new IoT product or you want to get started developing DIY IoT devices, you can now leverage proven hardware platforms to prototype your new product. With the right design tools, you can create a finished board that closely matches your prototype.
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL IOT PROJECT?
If you’re wondering what is an IoT project, just know that today’s IoT products can take a range of shapes and sizes, and they perform a range of functions. A great idea for an IoT device isn’t enough, a new design needs to deliver on form and function. In addition, required peripherals and embedded software/firmware requirements need to be assessed. If you want to get a head start on your next IoT product, you can use an existing hardware platform to start developing your application.
HOW DO I CREATE AN IOT PROJECT?
Creating a new IoT device starts with a basic prototype, which might consist of a microcontroller board, single-board computer like Raspberry Pi, an Arduino board, or a custom PCB. Off-the-shelf hardware platforms are very versatile, there is plenty of manufacturer and community support, and they tend to include multiple on-board peripherals. These hardware platforms are a great choice for new IoT projects as it’s easy to start coding and new components can be added through built-in interfaces.
Identify Your Use CaseUse cases for IoT products range from simple robots to large networks of sensor nodes. Off-the-shelf hardware platforms typically include the components you need to start developing for any of the following applications:
Environmental quality monitoring
Home automation and security
Sensor data collection and fusion
Images and video processing
Robotics
IoT gateways
FIND THE RIGHT IOT HARDWARE FOR YOUR PROJECT
Once you’ve determined what application area you want to target, it’s time to select a board with the hardware you’ll need.
You’ll need to compare your required peripherals with the available on-bard hardware to see which off-the-shelf option is best for you.
Here’s some off-the-shelf hardware you may want to include in your next IoT project:
GPS/GNSS modules
LCD/OLED displays
Camera modules
SD Expansion cards
Once a hardware platform has been selected and additional peripherals are determined, the next step is to start writing source code for the new system. It’s common to start with open-source code to start building out an application, or manufacturer libraries can be used to get started.
If you’re ready to turn your unique IoT projects into production-grade hardware, you can use modular design tools to help you build a custom board.
This type of software includes a range of hardware modules that can be mixed and matched on a custom board. These tools give designers a simple way to combine the hardware they need into a single package for unique IoT projects.
You’ll have access to a range of
industry-standard COMs and popular modules to create a new board for your next IoT project.
Take a look at some Gumstix customer success stories or contact us today to learn more about our products, design tools, and services.