Meet Your IoT Development Deadlines Despite The Supply Chain

Working with device data in IoT projects can be surprisingly expensive. Connecting devices directly to the cloud is one way to go, but more and more use cases are incorporating edge computing to great benefit. An edge device is internet-enabled but can process its data locally.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term coined by tech developer Kevin Ashton to describe the interconnected network of physical devices and vehicles that electronically collect and share data using embedded sensors. IoT devices are deeply embedded systems comprised of SoCs, DDR Memory, Power Management ICs, Wireless LAN ICs, and microcontrollers which utilize low speed serial communication protocols such as UART, I2C, SPI etc. to name a few.

There's gold in legacy devices—if you can reach it. Long-serving equipment, machines and systems may be the backbone of industrial manufacturing, but many if not most were built and installed in the years before today's on-board microprocessors and Ethernet or wireless network connections were available. It's this lack of data processing and connectivity that makes it difficult to access the useful data that many plant-floor devices contain. However, there are a few ways to overcome these obstacles, and take advantage of the insights and efficiencies this equipment can provide.

By 2020, the Internet of Things (IoT) is predicted to generate an additional $344B in revenues, as well as to drive $177B in cost reductions. IoT and smart devices are already increasing performance metrics of major US-based factories. They are in the hands of employees, covering routine management issues and boosting their productivity by 40-60%. The following list of 9 predictions explores the state of IoT in 2019 and covering IoT impact on many aspects of business and technology including Digital Transformation, Blockchain, AI, and 5G.