IoT has witnessed
significant growth in today’s technological age. And when powered by the
capabilities of mobility, the technology fostered new advancements in the form
of user experience, innovation, and business performance.
IoT devices and mobile apps are deemed two sides of a coin. They complement each other to redefine businesses and customer experience. And industries across the globe are progressively investing in IoT development services to create IoT-enabled app and makes the most of this blend.
The fusion of IoT
and mobile apps is helping businesses from diverse industry verticals to make
headway. So, it won’t be vague to say that apart from other industries, IoT has
also revolutionized the mobile app development industry. Herein, we have
outlined a few ways to explore how this technology impacts the app development
process.
How
IoT is Impacting Mobile App Development
Shifts
Focus
Earlier, app
developers used to focus on creating user-friendly apps. However, the IoT
growth has shifted their focus on developing IoT-enabled apps that establish an
effective integration with the sensors or smart devices. An IoT app helps in
everything – expediting business operations, improving customer experience,
reducing operational cost, discovering new business opportunities, and more.
Reduces
Efforts
The emergence of IoT has brought forth ample opportunities and possibilities in the market. The technology provides one centralized platform that decreases the efforts of IoT app developers in creating an IoT app and performs multiple tasks.
For instance, an IoT application development company uses Beacon technology to manage centralized appliances using a single device at a particular location. Simply put, when a user enters his home, beacon technology emits a signal and sends notifications to perform activities like check security camera, switch on lights, turn on AC or heater, etc.
Emphasizes
on App Security
IoT enables an unprecedented amount of entry points, making the apps more prone to data hacks and thefts while transferring sensitive information. So, IoT app developers emphasize on the app security and implement various proven techniques to ensure that users’ privacy doesn’t hamper at any stage and overcome the data security challenge.
Brings
Modification
The futuristic apps must support connected devices or say IoT to stay in the market. In a way, IoT has made modifications a necessity, and IoT appdevelopers are going the extra mile to make apps adaptable to smart connected devices.
Final
Words
The future of mobile apps seems brighter due to the advent of IoT technology. Given the above factors, it is apparent that IoT is the biggest revolution in the mobile app development industry. And IoT app developers will leave no stone unturned to develop smart apps and steer the innovation curve towards a better-interconnected future.
The IoT industry is vast and offers enormous opportunities to help businesses make headway. Given the rapid growth of IoT, we can say that IoT devices will soon be ubiquitous, from smart cities and utilities to people’s homes and cars. Owing to the increasing IoT devices, the IoT development services and solutions are becoming more prevalent than ever, though it may still be hard to find the best IoT app developers.
Herein, we will shed
light on consumer IoT because it the sphere that demands mobile apps the most.
In other sectors like agriculture and enterprises, IoT devices may not require
mobile interface as they can directly connect to the cloud or be controlled
using web applications.
However,
consumer-oriented IoT devices typically need apps. Smart homes are probably the
first that that strikes our mind when we think about IoT for consumers. And the
smart home technologies and devices are rapidly gaining momentum with each
passing year. Besides smart homes, consumer-based IoT apps are required in
healthcare, agriculture, automobiles, and child and pet care.
IoT will change the
way we live in our homes, drive cars, work, and entertain ourselves. The number
of connected devices and IoT apps are growing quickly in these industries. If
you’re also planning to develop an IoT app and disrupt any of these markets,
this guide is for you.
Things
You Need to Know About IoT App Development
How to develop an
IoT app totally depends on your idea. Though feature-set will be different for
a connected car app and a smart home app, you need to know some basic things
before embarking on your IoT app development journey.
Major
IoT Components
An IoT system
comprises four components, including hardware, software, cloud, and network.
Hardware has various low-energy sensors that operate over Bluetooth
and connect via the internet. To implement your idea, you have to choose
whether you need third-party or custom hardware. A mobile device will also
serve as hardware in your IoT system.
Software is a cloud-based IoT app – web or mobile – that is used to
manage and control IoT devices connected to it. The IoT app also collects
real-time data from sensors and shows it to users.
Cloud plays a vital role in IoT as it processes and arranges
data. The most significant advantage of this component is that you do not
require physical resources for storing data.
Network transfers data from
a mobile device to sensors or devices and vice-versa. It links all devices
within the IoT ecosystem.
Make sure that the IoT app developers you hire, create a robust solution that overcomes these challenges. Now let’s explore how you can create an IoT app.
How
to Develop an IoT Application
Choose
a Platform
IoT platforms
provide useful toolkits to expedite the IoT app development process. There
are currently multiple IoT platforms like Google Cloud, AWS, and Cloud, each having its own
features. You can select any of them, but pay heed to the what technologies
they support and how much they cost.
Choose
the Hardware
If you don’t have
your own hardware for your IoT project, you should turn to third-party
hardware. But make sure your hardware connects accurately and aligns with your
product’s requirements.
Think
of Scalability
The relevance of
your app depends heavily on scalability. It should be able to manage a massive
amount of data, along with multiple devices and processes. Cloud is deemed the
best technology for this purpose.
Make
Sure Your App Operates Fast
When it comes to transferring data and remotely controlling devices, the app’s speed plays a significant role. Make sure that your IoT app operates faster. Imagine your connected car doesn’t respond quickly when you give a command using your own app. Disappointing, right? This is why you should focus on the app’s speed and performance.
Ensure
the Security
Security should be
the top priority of your app. Unfortunately, IoT is vulnerable to data
infringement when a plethora of devices is connected in one network. And these
attacks can expose private and sensitive data when people use IoT for multiple
areas like homes, cars, and healthcare devices. So, implement proven strategies to ensure the security of your IoT
app and device.
How
much IoT App Development Costs
The development cost of an IoT app depends on features, third-party services, technologies, developers’ location, and hourly rate.
To give you estimation, we would say that if IoT app development costs $100,000 in North America, the same app will cost $25,000 if you hire an Indian IoT application development company.
The cost of a basic
IoT app ranges from $15,000-$25,000 and a complex projects ranges from
$30,000-$50,000, depending on your feature scope.
Final
Words
IoT mobile apps are
on the rise now. They are becoming a crucial part of our lives by freeing us
from daily chores and reminding us things we often forget. By developing a
smart IoT app, you can penetrate this ever-growing industry and unleash massive
revenue opportunities.
The most important things to consider before developing an IoT app are security, speed, and network stability. Without these features, it would be hard for you to get loyal users who not only use your app but also recommend it to their friends/family. Thus, collaborating with experienced IoT app developersto ensure your app is stable, secure, and lightning-fast would be the best option.
Though the concept
of a digital twin has been around since 2002, the technology gained recognition
following the rapid rise of the IoT. Besides IoT, digital twins now integrate
machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to bring data,
algorithms, and context together. So, businesses have started adopting this
technology to test new ideas, detect issues before they occur, and monitor
items remotely.
To understand the potential of the digital twin, you should know what it exactly is, its types, benefits, and a few use cases. Without these insights, you might struggle to get the most of your IoT investments. We recommend you to approach an IoT development company to know how you can leverage digital twin in your IoT project.
What
is a Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a
virtual replica of physical assets, processes, systems, and devices that can be
utilized for various purposes. Simply put, a digital twin is the ability to
take the virtual representation of both the elements and the dynamics of how an
IoT device operates or works. It acts as a bridge between the digital and
physical worlds by using sensors to gather real-time data of a physical asset.
Subsequently, the data is utilized to create a virtual replica of the asset,
enabling it to be understood, analyzed, or optimized easily. Other terms used
to describe digital twin over the last years are hybrid twin, virtual twin,
virtual prototyping, and digital asset management.
Types
of Digital Twin
Depending on what
they replicate virtually, digital twins can be classified into three types:
Discrete
Digital Twins are used to analyze
and optimize individual assets, people, and other physical resources.
Composite
Digital Twins, on the contrary, is a virtual replica of composite
material used for manufacturing purposes. Mostly, the composite material is
used in a variety of industries like aerospace, architectures, and energy.
Digital
Twins of Organizations (DTOs) maximize the value
across specific processes like manufacturing or entire business operations.
Benefits
of Digital Twins
Earlier, digital
twins were used to improve the performance of a single asset like a wind
turbine or a jet engine. However, the technology has become quite sophisticated
lately. Now, it connects systems of assets or even entire organizations and
transforms their operations significantly. Let’s dive in to unleash how digital
twin can benefit your business.
Reduces
Issues Related to Product Quality – Digital twins help you understand the possible outcomes, improve
operations, and quickly detect product quality issues.
Lowers
Maintenance Costs – Digital twins
predict maintenance failures through simulation models that store information
about various operating scenarios, risk factors, and system configurations.
Thus, you can reduce downtime, enhance equipment reliability, extend their life
span, and save huge costs.
Improves
Productivity – Using digital twins,
you don’t have to experiment with physical objects or halt ongoing processes to
improve overall operations. All you have to do is run simulations in the lab to
understand the risks as well as the benefits of new processes and keep refining
them to obtain the best results.
Facilitates
Employee Training – Digital twins can
create virtual real-life situations to train employees. You can also teach them
how to handle equipment that is too costly to be given hands-on training.
Use
Cases of Digital Twin
The benefits of
digital twins are enormous. Now, let’s have a look at some of its uses cases.
Automobile
– Digital replicas of automobiles gather behavioral
and operational data of their physical counterparts to monitor and improve
their performance. They also help in developing and testing new products like hybrid
and electric vehicles.
Construction
– Digital models of building capture real-time data
about their infrastructure using sensors and other wireless technologies. They
not only help in improving the design and quality of construction projects but
also reduce maintenance costs.
Sports
– Sensors and analytics help in creating digital
replicas of players and simulate game situations to detect most likely injuries
and improve performance. F1 racing teams utilize digital twins to monitor
adjustments and enhance the performance of their cars.
Healthcare – The virtual replica of a patient or an organ enables
physicians to practice procedures in a simulated environment. This technology
is also used to conduct digital clinical trials before releasing new drugs or
vaccines.
Aerospace and Defense – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) utilizes digital twins to operate, maintain, and repair systems in the outer world. Similarly, the US military uses the technology to validate the integrity of the chips and semiconductors used in their weaponry.
Final
Words
For businesses that already use IoT, the digital twin is the next step to steer their digital journey toward the right path. If you’re planning to optimize processes, improve efficiencies, and achieve better business outcomes, digital twins are worth embracing. For more information about the technology and how you can integrate it into your business operations, approach the experts of ourIoT development company.
Education is the most powerful tool we have in our
possession. By educating more and more people, we can drive a better social and
technological change, leading to a more prosperous future. Thus, it is
imperative to improve the education in terms of access as well as quality.
Technological advancements have significantly impacted
education globally. Among all the technologies, the internet has the most
profound effect on the way we educate and learn. Today, you can take a Harvard
class right from your living room. You can replace high schools with online
resources, learn new skills from YouTube, and even take degrees online.
But what’s next? Is there any other technology that can immensely benefit the education system? Obviously, there is. IoT is the technology that has radically revolutionized almost all the industry verticals. The IoT app developers believe that this innovation is one of the next technological advancements in schools, universities, and education in general.
Below, we have
explored the role of IoT in education to unearth the boundless opportunities
offered by this technology.
Note: If you already know the IoT impact on education and want to adopt this technology, reach out to an experienced IoT app development company.
Now let’s dive in…
Smart Classrooms
We can anticipate that future classrooms will be driven by
technology. Augmented Reality (AR) will make the dissection day more humane by
eliminating the need for real animals. Virtual Reality (VR) will replace the
science class with a true-to-size display of the particles that make up life.
However, the foundation on which these classrooms will
operate is the Internet of Things. Occupancy sensors can automatically detect
and record the attendance of the students. Wearable devices will determine if
the class is disengaged, tired, or need a break, and the whiteboards will
record all the notes taken in the class. An IoT network will completely
automate all the functions of the class.
Foreign Language
Instruction
The most popular way of learning foreign languages is
immersion, where one gets real-time feedback from teachers. For example, while
learning French in France, you can get instant feedback from native speakers
for free. However, such an environment is hard to recreate in other countries
where French is spoken.
This is where IoT comes in handy. Utilizing connected
devices, foreign language instructors can create a simulation environment to
check whether students have made a correct statement, monitor their progress,
and provide them real-time feedbacks irrespective of their location.
Task-Based Learning
IoT will impeccably impact the way we teach because
connected devices or systems free up the teachers from monitoring students,
allowing them to facilitate learning and educate seamlessly. In task-based
learning, students learn-by-doing, and instructors help them when required.
IoT-enabled systems provide assistance, feedback, and classroom-level
monitoring automatically. By signaling teachers for help through an IoT device,
no student will get too far ahead or falls too far behind – an issue that has
always persisted in the classroom.
Disability
Accommodation
IoT is extremely beneficial for disabled learners. For
instance, hearing-impaired students may use a pair of smart sign language
interpretation gloves and a tablet to translate sign language into audible
speech and thus convert sound into written language. Using IoT devices is the
best way to provide educational assistance to disable learners or students.
Final Words
IoT may take some time to gain mainstream adoption in
education. The fundamental purpose of the IoT applications is to shed light on
the massive benefits one can yield by integrating IoT into educational
environments. So, we can conclude that IoT can contribute a lot to improving
the quality and accessibility of education.
To create an IoT-based solution and facilitate learning globally, approach our IoT app developers.
The global population
has been increasing by leaps and bounds, and so is their electricity demand. To
fulfill this demand, power generation companies and utilities are continuously
improving their existing working methodologies and machinery. Thus, they are
able to elevate the overall plant efficiency, which in turn, enables utilities
to provide electricity to a wide area network.
Programmable Logic
Controllers (PLCs) and SCADA systems have enabled these companies to assess the
condition and performance of their power plants’ tools for a long time.
However, these systems are less interoperable and don’t offer consumption
pattern monitoring of energy consumed by the end consumers.
The emergence of IoT
in the energy sector has
also resulted in the advent of smart IoT-based energy solutions. These
solutions underpinned with IoT sensors and telemetry capabilities offer
enormous functionalities to the energy sector in terms of operational
optimization, consumption pattern monitoring, and asset performance management.
Smart Energy Solutions
Smart energy solutions
are made up of devices like the smart grid and smart meters that are used to
garner relevant data. This data comprises factors related to electricity flow
and can vary from equipment performance to energy utilized by the end-users. By
analyzing this data, the energy companies can make informed decisions to manage
electricity flow in three processes, including power generation, transmission,
and distribution.
IoT plays a vital role
in maintaining the power flow in all these three processes. It allows
electricity companies to manage the electricity supply at peak hours and
eliminate wastage.
Let’s
dive deep into the benefits of the Internet of Things in all these processes.
Power Generation –
Power plant machinery
must be efficient enough to minimize electricity wastage. However, power plants
undergo high levels of inefficiency and unreliability due to:
Use of old and malfunctioning equipment
Improper operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures.
Incorrect utilization of historical data related to equipment.
These factors considerably affect the efficiency of machinery and equipment. With the help of IoT app developers, power generation companies create cost-effective solutions to enhance their O&M tasks, thus improving the lifetime of the equipment. By continuously tracking the performance of assets, point of failure and required maintenance time can be estimated accurately.
Uptime
Monitoring:
Uptime monitoring is
the time during which machinery or equipment runs. While the machine is
working, different parameters are considered to assess its performance and
condition. These parameters help companies to estimate the machine breakdown
time and even schedule predictive, condition, or risk-based maintenance tasks.
Downtime
Monitoring:
The time in which equipment is not running or under maintenance is
referred to as downtime. By using the historical data of equipment garnered
through different integrated sensors, appropriate repairs and maintenance can
be done to get it ready for operation.
By simultaneously assessing the uptime and downtime of various
machines in a power plant, the availability of equipment can be determined.
Thus, the standby machines can be used during peak hours to fulfill the extra
demand. A few other benefits of monitoring equipment availability are:
Minimized maintenance costs
Improved efficiency and reliability of assets
Fast inspection and detection of sources of
failure
Elimination of unplanned downtime and
emergency repairs
Power
Transmission –
The efficiency of
power transmission systems decreases after a prolonged duration of usage.
Additionally, these power grid systems often run along with power plants having
high emission rates and low fuel efficiency that result in reduced efficacy of
power transmission systems.
Nowadays, these
conventional power grids have been supplanted with upgraded IoT-based smart
grids. The new smart grids provide quick remote control on multiple electricity
transfer parameters such as voltage, frequency, ramp rate, etc. Moreover, they
offer a two-way dialogue system that enables utilities and customers to
transmit data and electricity quickly.
Key benefits that an
advanced transmission system yield with smart grids are:
Renewable
Energy Management:
The energy produced
from renewable resources is known as variable power, which varies with change
in environmental conditions. A smart transmission system can identify these
variations and also balance the power supply by extracting energy or
electricity from conventional power plants.
Reduced
Operational Costs:
Smart grids complemented with distribution systems can gauge the energy consumption in different locations and the duration of peak power consumption. Based on this data, utilities can choose the best possible time to run “peaking plants” to manage power supply when there is a peak demand for electricity. Since this reduces the usage of less efficient peaking plants, the operational cost is also reduced considerably.
Asset
Management:
A transmission
system comprises transformers, substations, and transmission lines. These
assets and equipment develop faults owing to overloading and continuous
operation. So, different IoT sensors are used to examine various factors
related to the working of the equipment and identifying safety hazards as well
as vulnerable components. This improves the maintenance tasks along with the
life of transmission equipment.
Power
Distribution –
IoT is improving the
distribution services and customer experiences using smart meters and smart
grids. A smart meter is an IoT application that transfers power consumption
data of a home to the utility provider. Customers can also access the data
through a web app or even from television.
Besides, smart
meters foster the development of smart distribution systems, offering various
benefits in the field of:
Supply
Rerouting and Restoring:
Due to unwanted
environmental conditions, transmission systems and assets can get damaged, which
averts the electricity flow in certain regions. It can take a lot of time to
recover the breakdown and restore the electricity supply in a location.
However, the blend of smart meters and smart grids can find a separate path to
supply electricity and help utilities to reroute the power supply to the area
suffering from a blackout.
Energy
Management Solutions for Home:
Smart appliances at
home can exchange data with smart meters to store and analyze data related to
energy consumption. Furthermore, smart meters share this data with a
centralized platform that can even be accessed from a TV. This data can be
utilized by consumers to manage electricity consumption and thus reduce the
bills.
Final Words
Smart energy solutions are improving the power generation, transmission, and distribution processes. IoT adoption in the energy sector has fueled the emergence of more reliable and efficient systems that reduces the power flow from power plants to end consumers. Thus, utilities are able to boost the reach of their electricity network to more remote locations and suffice the electricity demand of the continuously soaring global population.
If you also want to add intelligence to your power supply business, we suggest you investing in IoT app development services to create a smart energy solution and drive your business growth.
Internet of Things (IoT) refers to billions of objects or devices connected via the internet for garnering and sharing information. Any physical object can be transformed into an IoT device with the help of wireless networks. Thus, senseless devices become digitally intelligent, connecting the physical world with the digital world. These smart IoT devices can communicate without human intervention and can also be controlled and monitored remotely.
Examples
of IoT
As said earlier,
almost every physical object can be turned into an IoT device and controlled
using internet connectivity. An example of an IoT device is a light bulb that
can be operated with the help of a mobile application. Similarly, a motion
sensor, a smart thermostat, or a connected streetlight are some more examples
of IoT devices. Moreover, only those devices can be included in IoT that are
not expected to have internet connectivity, for instance, a light bulb. Thus, a
smartphone and a computer can’t be considered as IoT devices.
Functioning
of IoT Devices
IoT protocols are used for transferring data from one device to another through the internet. The devices’ sensors are linked to data networks like Wifi, Bluetooth, etc., and IoT platforms bridge these links. However, almost every business turn to an IoT app development company to ensure device security and prevent their data from being hacked.
Sensors/Devices
The sensors or
devices garner information from the environment. This data could be as simple
as a temperature reading or as complicated as a full video feed.
Sensors and devices
are two different terms because many sensors can be packed together, or sensors
can be a part of a device that offers much more than just sensing things. For
example, a smartphone is a device that has multiple sensors like GPS, camera,
accelerometer, and more. But, your smartphone isn’t just a sensor.
Whether it is a standalone sensor or device, the first step is to collect data from the environment.
Connectivity
The next step is to transfer
the collected information to the cloud via a gateway. Sensors and cloud can be
connected through various technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, low-power
wide-area networks, and more. Each option has tradeoffs between range,
bandwidth, and power consumption, which are the major factors to choose the
mode of connectivity.
Data
Processing
Once the data is sent
to the cloud, the software performs some kind of processing on it. This could
be very easy, like checking whether the temperature is within an acceptable
range. Or it could be quite complicated like using computer vision on a video
to recognize objects (intruders in a home).
But what happens if
there is an intruder in the home or temperature too high? This is where the
user comes in.
User
Interface
Next, the
information is sent to the users via an alert like text, email, notification,
etc. For instance, the user will receive a text when the temperature is too
high in cold storage.
Also, a user might
have an interface like a web browser or a mobile app through which they can
proactively track their system. Using an IoT app, users may also perform an
action such as remotely adjusting the temperature and affect the system.
Besides, a few
actions are performed automatically. Instead of waiting for the user to change
the temperature, the system does it itself through predefined rules.
Future
of IoT
IoT has been a
massive success since its inception due to its extensive range of applications.
With the help of IoT devices, collecting, sharing, and monitoring data has
become an easy task. It has been anticipated that there will about 21B IoT
connected devices by the end of 2020.
The IoT applications are huge, and businesses are investing heavily in IoT Development Services to get the best app solutions. Not only this, but cities are also becoming smart by employing IoT technology and leveraging IoT connected devices. It will help in changing our environment as per our needs. There have been speculations that cities will generate a revenue of $210.2B in 2020, which was $129.8B in 2017. Similarly, other industries like transport, health, buildings, etc. will also rake in massive revenue this year.
So, to summarize,
the future of the Internet of Things seems to be very promising, progressing,
and bright in the long run. Also, this technology will revolutionize every
industry by streamlining and expediting their operations.
In
today’s tech-driven era, innovation has reached to an extent where machines
have begun replacing humans. There has been constant research and advancements
to restore comfort and add value to our lives. Internet of Things (IoT) is one
of those tech innovations that plays a significant role to make this possible.
Every sector, including healthcare, home, manufacturing, energy, etc. is
witnessing a massive acceleration in their daily operations using this technology.
Additionally, Statista reports say
that the global market size of industrial robots and peripheral is anticipated
to reach 70 billion US dollars in 2024. Thus, businesses across the globe are
embracing industrial automation extensively.
The
primary reason behind the mainstream adoption of industrial automation is the
benefits offered by this advancement. Some of its top benefits are:
High accuracy
Enhanced efficiency
Cost-effective
Low errors
Lower power needs
Easy to control
Quick process completion
Currently,
every smart businessperson strives to automate their business processes to stay
ahead in the wave of ever-changing tech-innovations. Below, we are exploring a
few IIoT applications to provide you a clear idea of the areas where automation
can be leveraged.
IIoT Application #1: Security
You
may have heard about fire sensors. It is a small example of how IoT can provide
safety and security to business premises. In some industries, there is a need
for an additional layer of security besides the general needs.
IoT
devices have the potential to continuously monitoring the safety indicators to
protect the workplace and workforce from mishaps. They also check and track the
illness and injury rates, thus providing a safe and healthy environment in
industries.
IIoT Application #2: Automation of processes
Employing
IIoT, almost every operation can be automated. Smart sensor networks that are
connected to a cloud system can offer a great deal of control over your
processes. Thus, the need for hiring employees to handle such tasks will be
eliminated.
For instance, restaurants are automating the process of food wastage detection with the help of AI and IoT. The blend of IoT and industrial automation is significantly empowering industries. We suggest partnering with an IoT app development company to create a futuristic solution that can uniquely automate your business processes.
IIoT Application #3: Maintenance
How
do you keep up with the maintenance needs of your machines? With the signs of
hampered productions, right? In order to minimize the risk of low-quality
productions, connect IoT sensors to your equipment. It signals you before the
machines start malfunctioning. Thus, you can facilitate predictive maintenance
of your business with IoT, regardless of the industry.
Wondering
how it works? Sensors connected to your machines transmit accurate data to the
cloud system. Besides, they allow you to monitor the performance, improvement,
and progress of your equipment.
IIoT Application #4: Smart logistics management
Do
you know Amazon has announced to deliver packages using drones? Drones will not only improve safety, speed, and efficiency but
also replace humans.
Transport
drones greatly help businesses to manage logistics. Although it needs a
considerable investment at the initial stage, it will turn out to be a boon and
way lucrative after successful implementation.
Moreover,
you can also track the need for components with IoT devices. This is majorly
leveraged in the airline sector. Inventory management can also be easily
handled with IIoT devices.
IIoT Application #5: Integration of smart tools
A plethora of smart devices has been launched by IoT app developers, which provide a safer and error-free workforce to the workforce.
Let’s
take an example of wearables like smart glasses. They provide instant
notifications in case of an emergency like gas leakage or fire. These devices
are also capable of determining the efficiencies of an individual to check
their capability for a particular task.
IIoT Application #6: Data analysis with custom software
Machine
learning technology has taken data management to the next level. The massive
data garnered with the help of sensors is meticulously analyzed. This analytics
solution is a major benefit of IoT in industries, which also helps in the
optimization of processes. Thus, you can build software for this purpose that
suffices the needs and aligns with the operations of your business.
IIoT Application #7: Advanced packaging
Smart tracking tools have enabled businesses to track the loss of packages/products. The weather, roads, and other environmental conditions are also examined before the transit process. This tracking via IoT mechanisms can create a patterns using which businesses can quickly identify better ways of managing products. By availing IoT app development services, you can build smart IoT solutions to optimize your product packaging.
IIoT Application #8: Smart vehicles
Companies
striving to achieve next-level industrial automation are employing automotive
vehicles that consist multiple sensors. These smart vehicles can divert their
ways to reach their destination. Besides, they have an in-built GPS feature
that can detect the traffic in the way and the shortest possible route to
smoothen the journey.
IIoT Application #9: Easy quality control
The
quality check of the products and operations is imperative for the success of
every business. It enables them to stop following practices that waste time and
resources.
Since
IoT sensors can gather data related to temperature, raw materials, and even
wasted resources, quality engineers can easily detect the loopholes. Such data
can also identify the areas where the processes can be handled efficiently.
With IoT-enabled devices, quality issues can be eliminated radically.
Conclusion:
IIoT
applications have gained a massive momentum lately. The IoT in industrial
automation is bringing forth a lot of advancements by making a lot of things
possible, which were unimaginable earlier.
If you think that you are left behind in the wave technological transformations, consult with a reliable IoT app development company. From start-ups to enterprises, every business is investing in IIoT due to its applications and benefits in industrial automation.
Internet of Things (IoT) and
machine-to-machine (M2M) technologies use messaging and connectivity protocols
to transfer information remotely. The key features of these protocols are:
Low Power Consumption
Small Code Footprint
Low Latency
Use of Pub/Sub Pattern
Low Bandwidth Consumption
MQTT protocol suffices all these requirements and has renowned cloud platforms – Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud – as a driving force behind it. Thus, it complements the necessities of IoT and has become a sought-after protocol for this technology.
In this article, we will shed light on what MQTT is, how it works, and how it is beneficial for IoT.
What is MQTT?
MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is an open OASIS and ISO standard (ISO/IEC PRF 20922)[3] lightweight and flexible protocol that was launched by IBM. The lightweight feature allows it to be easily implemented into power-constrained IoT devices, while the flexibility provides support to varied application scenarios for IoT devices and services.
Furthermore, MQTT uses the Public/Subscribe pattern to exchange messages between devices. This protocol basically operates over TCP/IP; however, any network protocol that provides lossless, ordered, bi-directional connections can support MQTT. Generally, it is developed for connections with remote locations where the network bandwidth is limited, and a small code footprint is required.
How Does MQTT Work?
MQTT
Architecture
Similar to other IoT protocols, MQTT is based on clients and a server. The connected devices in MQTT are called “Clients”, which communicate with a server known as “Broker”. To clarify, brokers handle data transmission between clients.
When
a client wants to send information to the broker, it will be published to a
particular topic. In this case, the client will be referred to as a
“Publisher”. On the other hand, when a client that has subscribed to that topic
wants to receive information from the broker, then the client will be referred
to as a “Subscriber”. Additionally, the client that has subscribed to a
particular topic will receive all messages published on the topic henceforth.
The publishers and subscribers do not typically know each other. They are only aware of the broker that serves as an intermediary. Also, any client can be a publisher, subscriber, or both. This setup is recognized as the “Pub/Sub Model”.
Besides
messages, the publisher also sends QoS (Quality of Service) level, which defines
the guarantee of the message delivery. There are mainly three QoS levels, such
as:
At most once:
The broker will only receive the published message at most once. This level
should not be used for sending important messages since there are fewer possibilities
that the subscribers will receive it.
At least once: In this level, the publisher continuously sends the message
until it receives an acknowledgment from the broker. In other words, it is more
important that the message is received by the subscribers than to ensure that
it is received only once. This is the most commonly used QoS level.
Exactly once: The publisher and broker work in tandem to ensure that the
subscriber receives messages exactly once. This level needs some additional
overhead in the form of a four-part handshake, which provides a secure
authentication strategy for information delivered through network
architectures. It is the safest and most guaranteed QoS level but also the
slowest one. Thus, it is used only when necessary.
How
Does MQTT Work in IoT?
As said earlier, MQTT is one of the most widely used
protocols in IoT. Let’s understand how it works in the Internet of Things with
an example.
Assume you have multiple weather sensors ( a humidity
sensor and a temperature sensor) and two mobile phones. You want to send data
about the humidity level to one phone and the temperature level to another.
Using MQTT, this task can easily be managed. Firstly, you need to set up an MQTT broker service. Then, you can connect two sensors on the broker as clients and set them up to send data on topics – “Humid” and “Temp”.
After that, you can also integrate the mobile phones with the broker and subscribe the first mobile to “Temp” and the second one to “Humid”. Consequently, two connected devices will receive messages about the humidity and the temperature whenever the sensors publish the required information to the broker.
Over time, MQTT is becoming the most preferred protocol among businesses and IoT app developers for exchanging data among IoT devices.
Key Benefits of MQTT
Lightweight Code Footprint: IoT devices require only a few lines of
code to integrate and work with MQTT protocol.
Minimized Data Packets: MQTT is very energy-efficient and operates significantly
if a device is battery-powered or has little CPU power.
Speed: MQTT runs in real-time, with no delays outside of
Quality of Service (QoS).
Seamless Implementation: MQTT has in-built libraries in programming
languages like Python and Elixir. So, it is easy to implement.
Last Will and Testament: Ifaclient disconnects unexpectedly, you can set message instructions that will be sent to all subscribers so as to remedy the situation.
Retained Messages: Each topic can have a retained message that every client will automatically receive on subscribing.
Common
Alternatives to MQTT
XMPP(Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) is a
communication protocol based on XML language for storing and exchanging data.
It is often used to support instant messaging services.
A few differences between XMPP and MQTT are:
The XMPP code footprint is slightly heavier than MQTT, and you need an XML parser to encode as well as decode information.
XMPP doesn’t support pub/sub model by default, but it can be done with an extension.
XMPP takes more bandwidth than MQTT.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of the World Wide Web. However, this protocol is stateless and requires more overhead per transmission as compared to MQTT. Additionally, it has a lower throughput than MQTT, which means that you cannot send multiple messages simultaneously.
Conclusion
MQTT plays a significant role in making IoT products more “low-lift” while achieving desired connections among devices, servers as well as apps. Devices that use MQTT protocol sync easier with existing systems.
If you are devising for a major IoT project, then MQTT would be the best choice. You can also partner with experiencedIoT app developers who know the ins and outs of this protocol.
The market of IoT platforms is making
headway gradually, and it is expected to rake in a massive value of $74.44B globally by 2023. The reason behind the
expansion of this market is the proliferation in the IoT devices and their
correlated components. These devices and components need a facilitator – IoT
Platform – to seamlessly communicate in the same environment and create maximum
business value.
What is an IoT Platform?
IoT platform is a middleware solution that
acts as a connector between the IoT devices and the cloud. It facilitates data
exchange over the network and also connects the application layer to the
hardware.
Currently, there are a plethora of IoT platforms in the market, each having its own significance in making IoT integration as well as management simpler and scalable. A reliable IoT development company counts on 7 IoT platforms for successful IoT implementation.
Microsoft
Azure IoT Platform
It is an open-source, cloud-based suite
that assists in bringing local intelligence to the shared/distributed IoT. This
platform has virtual tools that offer a flexible and configurable computing
environment. These tools can be easily be resized according to the workload.
To leverage the Azure IoT platform, the
user has to pass the commands over Microsoft Azure PowerShell in order to start
or stop the server as well as writing operations. However, this suite doesn’t
offer any management.
Features:
Supports instant IoT-enabled
device registry that generates a unique identity for each device
Provides a cloud-based
dashboard to offer immediate access to data across apps and devices
Enables real-time analytics
streaming for the betterment of decision-making ability
Offers remote monitoring
solution to keep a tab of apps and devices
Smoothens continuous data
monitoring for actionable insights
AWS
IoT Platform
AWS platform not only allows device connectivity to the cloud but also secures the integration of apps available on cloud and other devices. The merit of this platform is that it enables apps to analyze devices and facilitates 24*7 communication between them, without the need for an internet connection.
Features:
Supports instant device and app
connectivity and helps in exchanging authentic messages using HTTP or MQTT, or
WebSockets protocols
Provides a message broker that
enables data communication between apps and devices with low latency
Offers a device gateway to deal
with all the connected device without maintaining infrastructure
Gives a unique identity to
devices to track metadata of connected systems
Encrypts data exchange through
authentication at every step
Google
Cloud IoT Platform
It provides a comprehensive toolset to
connect, process, save, and monitor data in the cloud and at the edge. Google
provides fully-managed, scalable cloud services for on-premise/edge computing
apps using the platform. This IoT platform also offers expanded AI capabilities
to edge devices with Cloud IoT Edge. Besides, it identifies the device
operations efficiency and performs firmware updates. Also, take note that only
a few programming languages support app development on this IoT platform, while
Google offers most tech-components.
Features:
Supports device’s predictive maintenance and improves equipment efficiency in real-time
Stores gathered data, performs complex analytics, and shows the connected device’s status
Provides massive storage and reduces server maintenance cost
Tracks location and condition of devices continuously
Enables integration with other Google services
Manages pricing on a per-minute basis
Facilitates big data analysis
IBM
Watson IoT Platform
It is a PaaS-based development Platform launched by IBM. This platform provides simple solutions for IoT app development servicesand makes it accessible for a novice. Moreover, it offers secure communication, real-time data exchange, and data sensor as well as weather data service. It has the potential to handle massive data and render improved customer service.
Features:
Provides an open container
architecture that offers convenient migration of workload to the cloud
Analyzes unstructured data and
comprehend the data-pattern to gain valuable insights
Develops and connects devices
to apps on the cloud seamlessly
Provides dashboard for enhanced
visualization
Cumulocity
IoT Platform
It is an independent device and app management
IoT platform, which enhances visibility and provides improved control over
remote assets. Being an end-to-end cloud enablement platform, it makes data and
asset management convenient for enterprises.
Features:
Monitors data analytics in
real-time by offering customizable dashboards
Improves the existing services
with simple workflow integrations
Connects devices over any
network with a plug-n-play approach
Facilitates access through
mobile, laptops, and desktops
Oracle
IoT Platform
This platform offers endpoint management,
real-time data analysis, and fast-paced messaging to send real-time alerts
directly to user devices. It is Platform as a service-based cloud computing
suite that facilitates device connectivity with the cloud and data monitoring from
the devices to provide real-time insights and incorporate data with real-time
web, application service, or Oracle Cloud services.
Features:
Supports bi-direction
communication between and the connected devices and the apps on the cloud
Stores device’s metadata to
comprehend the attributes, capabilities, and lifecycle of the connected devices
Renders Oracle BI Cloud Service
Support with enhanced data visualization
Supports Big Data analysis
Cisco
IoT Cloud Connect
This is a cloud-based, mobile platform that
renders solutions for mobile operators and offers flexible deployment options
for IoT devices. The key focus of this suite is data and voice connectivity,
while Cisco Kinetic ensures the security of this platform. It also extracts IoT
data from the components or devices connected to the IoT network to normalize
it so that apps can use it. Additionally, this platform applies rules to the
data in motion for the improvement of the decision-making ability of the
enterprises.
Features:
Supports data computation in a shared network that ensures optimal use of resources in the network
Provides a cloud-based dashboard that offers better control and view of the IoT gateways
Enable free data flow between the connected devices and the app based on cloud
IoT platforms play a significant role in
creating business value and fueling their growth. But, they must tread
carefully to choose the best one by taking factors like service provider’s SDK
richness, support, documentation, and API interface into account. They should
also assess the IoT
protocols for billing base, message size limitations, and multi-tenancy
support.
Be it choosing an IoT platform or availing IoT app development services, it is essential to analyze the nature and objectives of your business. You can also consult with the experts of a renowned IoT development company to help you find the best IoT platform and navigate your IoT implementation journey.
