Addressing the complexity of IoT deployments
When it comes to IoT deployments, the technical considerations are manifold: starting with device connectivity, continuing with device management, and updating device software, all the way to managing and working with device data. Companies have to find flexible solutions for all these requirements right from the start. By integrating all services into a homogeneous framework, they can better support a dynamic scale-up of their IoT deployments in the future.
For manufacturers like onsemi – a leading supplier of semiconductor-based solutions – this becomes an ever more important consideration. “No matter whether it is a small-scale pilot project or a large-scale IoT deployment, we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to use our sensor platforms in the field and keep the technical effort as low as possible,” says Wiren Perera, Head of IoT at onsemi.
To that extend, the company now works together with Bosch and pre-integrates its sensor platforms with Bosch IoT Suite – the IoT services by Bosch – covering key technical use cases right out of the box.
1. Device connectivity
onsemi leverages Bluetooth® Low Energy to connect its sensor platforms to a gateway running Bosch IoT Edge. The IoT middleware enables IoT devices and gateways with connectivity, management, applications, updates and more advanced edge computing features.
To fully integrate its system solutions with Bosch IoT Suite, onsemi provides a complementary plug-in for Bosch IoT Edge. The software package can be installed on gateways, such as Raspberry Pi running a dedicated Bosch IoT Edge package, thus building the basis for end-to-end services like data management, device management, as well as software and firmware updates for onsemi sensor platforms.
2. Device management and software updates
With IoT deployments growing in scale, device management and software updates are two aspects that become increasingly difficult to handle without a suitable solution. By drawing on Bosch IoT Suite, onsemi makes use of comprehensive software features that enable the mass deployment and management of IoT applications in the field, including device provisioning and configuration.
Together with Bosch, onsemi has defined and developed the digital twin model of edge sensor nodes. The device capabilities and characteristics are defined in a common language so that Bosch IoT Suite can handle the interface with each device in a standardized format.
Software updates are an especially important consideration, not just to mend security issues but also to roll out new features to the devices, thus prolonging the product lifecycle as well as generating additional revenue streams. Bosch IoT Suite enables the roll out of firmware and software updates over the air (FOTA) to the onsemi hardware as well to the edge gateway (SOTA). This redefines how system integrator companies approach maintenance tasks by moving the full control of application updates into the cloud. Service managers can now execute the software rollout in a convenient and structured way. It also ensures that devices are up-to-date and operational even in remote locations all around the world.
3. Data management
Companies can only exploit the potential of the IoT when they take a targeted approach to analyzing data. Thus, they are able to leverage valuable insights, for instance, to continuously improve their product and service quality and to align their offering to their customers’ actual needs. Nevertheless, the more devices are out there in the field, the harder it becomes to cope with the large amounts of data.
As a fully managed cloud service, Bosch IoT Insights addresses this challenge. It collects, processes and stores IoT data for further analysis and provides features to visualize field data in real-time. This IoT data management tool takes the guesswork out of optimizing devices and functions, while also easing the development of new services and solutions.
The foundation for highly scalable IoT applications
By integrating its hardware with Bosch IoT Suite, customers of onsemi are not just able to get their IoT projects up and running quickly, they are also equipped for the future when the project grows in scale. Currently, the RSL10 Sensor Development Kit and RSL10 Smart Shot Camera are supported within Bosch IoT Suite ecosystem, with more platforms to be added in 2021.
“Bosch IoT Suite truly addresses some of the most significant challenges faced by IoT OEMs, including data and device management,” Perera concludes. “By adding this support for our sensor platforms, we speed up the development and implementation of highly scalable IoT applications ranging from asset management to automation and machine vision.”