According to Intel IoT is expected to be a multi-trillion-dollar market, with 50 billion devices creating 44 zettabytes (or 44 trillion gigabytes) of data annually by 2020. But that widely cited 50 billion IoT devices in 2020 number is clearly not correct! Forecast of 50 Billion Devices by 2020 Is Outdated. In 2017 we should be talking about about some sensible numbers. The current count is somewhere between Gartner’s estimate of 6.4 billion (which doesn’t include smartphones, tablets, and computers), International Data Corporation’s estimate of 9 billion (which also excludes those devices), and IHS’s estimate of 17.6 billion (with all such devices included). Both Ericsson and Evans have lowered their expectations from 50 billion for 2020: Evans, who is now CTO of Stringify, says he expects to see 30 billion connected devices by then, while Ericsson figures on 28 billion by 2021.
Connectivity and security will be key features for Internet of Things processors in 2017. Microcontroller (MCU) makers will continue to target their products at the Internet of Things (IoT) in 2017 by giving more focus on battery life, more connectivity of various types, and greater security. The new architectures are almost sure to spawn a multitude of IoT MCUs in 2017 from manufacturers who adopt ARM’s core designs.
ARM will be big. Last year, ARM’s partners shipped 15 billion chips based on its architectures. The trend toward IoT processors will go well beyond ARM licensees. Intel rolled out the Intel Atom E3900 Series for IoT applications. And do not forget MIPS an RISC-V.
FPGA manufacturers are pushing their products to IoT market. They promise that FPGAs solve challenges at the core of IoT implementation: making IoT devices power efficient, handling incompatible interfaces, and providing a processing growth path to handle the inevitable increase in device performance requirement.
Energy harvesting field will become interesting in 2017 as it is more broadly adopted. Energy harvesting is becoming the way forward to help supplement battery power or lose the need for it altogether. Generally researchers are eyeing energy-harvesting to power ultra-low-power devices, wearable technology, and other things that don’t need a lot of power or don’t come in a battery-friendly form factor.
Low power wide area networks (LPWA) networks (also known as NarrowBand IoT) will be hot in 2017. There is hope that f LPWA nets will act as a catalyst, changing the nature of the embedded and machine-to-machine markets as NB-IoT focuses specifically on indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and enabling a large number of connected devices. The markets will become a kind of do-it-yourselfers paradise of modules and services, blurring the lines between vendors, users and partners. At the same time for years to come, the market for low power wide area networks (LPWA) will be as fragmented and is already in a race to the bottom (Sigfox, said to be promising costs approaching $1 per node per year). Competing technologies include Sigfox, LoRa Alliance, LTE Cat 1, LTE Cat M1 (eMTC), LTE Cat NB1 (NB-IoT) and other sub-gigahertz options almost too numerous to enumerate.
We are starting to see a battle between different IoT technologies, and in few years to come we will see which are winners and which technologies will be lost in the fight. Sigfox and Lora are currently starting well, but telecom operators with mobile networks NB-IoT will try hit the race heavily in 2017. Vendors prep Cat M1, NB1 for 2017: The Cat M1 standard delivers up to 380 Kbits/second over a 1.4 MHz channel. NB-1 handles up to 40 Kbits/s over 200 kHz channels. Vendors hope the 7-billion-unit installed base of cellular M2M modules expands. It’s too early to tell which technologies will be mainstream and which niche. It could be that cellular NB-IOT was too late, it will fail in the short term, it can win in the long term, and the industry will struggle to make any money from it. At $2 a year, 20 billion devices will contribute around 4% of current global mobile subscription revenues.
New versions of communication standards will be taken into use in 2017. For example Bluetooth 5 that adds more speed and IoT functionality. In 2017, we will see an increase in the number of devices with the new Bluetooth 5 standard.
Industrial IoT to gain traction in 2017. Industrial applications ultimately have the greater transformative potential than consumer products, offering users real returns on investment (ROI) rather than just enhanced convenience or “cool factor”. But the industrial sector is conservative and has been slow to embrace an industrial IoT (IIoT), but is seems that they are getting interested now. During the past year there has been considerable progress in removing many of the barriers to IIoT adoption. A global wide implementation of an IIoT is many years away, of course. The issues of standards and interoperability will most likely remain unresolved for several years to come, but progress is being made. The Industrial Internet Consortium released a framework to support development of standards and best practices for IIoT security.
The IIoT market is certainly poised to grow. A Genpact research study, for instance, indicates that more than 80% of large companies believe that the IIoT will be essential to their future success. In a recent market analysis by Industry ARC, for instance, the projected value of the IIoT market will reach more than $120 billion by 2021. Research firm Markets and Markets is even more optimistic, pegging IIoT growth at a CAGR of 8% to more than $150 billion by 2020. And the benefits will follow. By GE’s estimate, the IIoT will stimulate an increase in the global GDP of $10 to $15 trillion over the next 20 years.
Systems integrators are seeking a quick way to enter the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market. So expect to see many plug and play IoT sensor systems unveiled. There were many releses in 2016, and expect to see more in 2017. Expect to see device, connectivity and cloud service to be marketed as one packet.
IoT analytics will be talked a lot in 2017. Many companies will promise to turn Big Data insights into bigger solutions. For industrial customers Big Data analytics is promised to drive operational efficiencies, cut costs, boosting production, and improving worker productivity. There are many IIoT analytic solution and platform suppliers already on the market and a growing number of companies are now addressing industrial analytics use.
In 2016 it was all bout getting the IoT devices connected to cloud. In 2017 we will see increased talk about fog computing. Fog computing is new IoT trend pushed by Cisco and many other companies. As the Internet of Things (IoT) evolves, decentralized, distributed-intelligence concepts such as “fog computing” are taking hold to address the need for lower latencies, improved security, lower power consumption, and higher reliability. The basic premise of fog computing is classic decentralization whereby some processing and storage functions are better performed locally instead of sending data all the way from the sensor, to the cloud, and back again to an actuator. This demands smarter sensors and new wireless sensor network architectures. Groups such as the Open Fog Consortium have formed to define how it should best be done. You might start to want to be able to run the same code in cloud and your IoT device.
The situation in IoT security in 2016 was already Hacking the IoT: As Bad As I Feared It’d Be and there is nothing that would indicate that the situation will not get any better in 2017. A veritable army of Internet-connected equipment has been circumvented of late, due to vulnerabilities in its hardware, software or both … “smart” TVs, set-top boxes and PVRs, along with IP cameras, routers, DSL, fiber and cable modems, printers and standalone print servers, NASs, cellular hot spots, and probably plenty of other gear. IoT world at the moment is full of vulnerable devices, and it will take years to get then replaces with more secure devices. Those vulnerable devices can be used to make huge DDoS attacks against Internet services. The 2016 October 21 cyberattacks on Dyn brought to light how easily many IoT devices can be compromised. I expect that kind of incidents will happen more in 2017 as DDoS botnets are pretty easy to build with tools available on-line. There’s no question that everyone in the chain – manufacturers, retailers and consumers – have to do a better job securing connected devices.When it comes to IoT, more security is needed.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Intentionally Complicated ESP32 Wireless Clock
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/27/iotp-the-internet-of-toilet-paper/
Our first impression of this IoT toilet paper roll was that somebody was pulling our leg. Watching the infomercial-esque video below is alternately hilarious and horrifying, but it leaves you with the unmistakable feeling that this is all a joke, and a pretty good one at that. Right up until you get to the big Kimberly-Clark logo at the end, that is, and you realize that the international paper concern must be looking at this seriously.
IOToilet
http://www.instructables.com/id/IOToilet/
The IOToilet is the first smart toilet paper holder, that keeps track of our daily usage of toilet paper and allows accumulating stats showing these metrics. And why should I care about my daily usage of toilet paper you may ask? Well, as it turns out, our abdominal health, especially the digestion cycle, has a lot to do with both our physical health and our mental one.
The build was based on an existing piece of hardware my client got from EBay, a voice recording device encapsulated in a toilet paper holder. It had the right form factor and all the needed peripherals already built in, such as a speaker, a movement sensor to trigger the device, springs to hold the toilet paper itself, battery compartment, and an on-off switch, so I gladly opted using this ready made rather than modeling and printing my own.
Materials used:
Toilet paper holder
Wemos D1 Mini
ATTiny85 chip, DIP packaging
2 x 2n2222 transistor
220 Ohm resistor
2 * 1KOhm resistor
MPU6050 accelerometer
Optional, in case not using my PCB:
Wemos prototyping shield
wire, solder, etc.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Internet of things
Meet the “connected cow”
https://www.ft.com/content/2db7e742-7204-11e7-93ff-99f383b09ff9
Dairy herds are being connected to sensors and mobile phones
the rapid development of internet of things (IoT) technology has ushered in an era when even the world’s largest companies are talking about the “connected cow” with a straight face.
Bovine technology typically has come in the form of “glorified pedometers”
can tell the farmer whether the animal is walking too little or too much — a key sign of its health
The devices are a common sight on farms, and the market for them has become crowded.
Moocall, an Irish company that is working with the IoT team at Vodafone, the telecoms group, says it aims to reduce mortality rates in cows by up to 80 per cent by placing a palm-sized sensor on the animal’s tail.
Similar initiatives include the Well Cow Bolus, a telemetry system that monitors the dietary health
A new generation of companies is attempting to apply machine learning to the monitoring of individual cows to help the agricultural sector ramp up the efficiency
€2,000 worth of savings was achieved on a herd of just 20 cows at one farm
Fujitsu, the Japanese technology company, has developed GYUHO SaaS, a similar algorithm-based “connected cow” service
Investment in precision “agtech” systems reached $3.2bn globally in 2016 (including $363m in farm management and sensor technology)
Telecoms companies, for example, are targeting dairy farmers as a new growth angle, either with dedicated IoT networks (such as Vodafone’s) or with the launch of 5G networks (as Telecom Italia is doing in Italy). The GSMA, the mobile trade body, predicts the IoT market will be worth $1.8tn to telecoms companies by 2026.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Controllable Cyborg Beetles for Swarming Search and Rescue
https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/cyborg-beetles-for-swarming-search-and-rescue
Robotics tries very hard to match the agility, versatility, and efficiency of animals. Some robots get very close in a few specific ways, but we’re still chasing the dream of robots that can match our biological friends.
this new cyborg beetle from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is the smallest (and most controllable) yet.
This particular beetle is a type of darkling beetle. It’s small (2 to 2.5 centimeters), lightweight (about 0.5 gram), and lives for three months or so, which is a long time for a little bug. A backpack of electronics interfaces with the beetle’s antennae, and when the antennae are stimulated with an electric pulse, it activates the beetle’s built-in escape mechanism, fooling it into thinking it’s running into something and causing it to turn.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Curing The Security Sickness in Medical Devices
http://www.securityweek.com/curing-security-sickness-medical-devices
Just as the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed traditional industries and service sectors, it is also having a great impact in the world of healthcare. It’s easy to argue, in fact, that no area is being transformed by digital technologies as rapidly or with as many benefits for society as new medical technologies.
But the understandable desire to press ahead and unlock those benefits has led to a lack of scrutiny on the subject of digital security in devices for treatment and monitoring, and a spate of high profile problems in the area has begun to concern many. In the US, the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has issued formal warnings about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in four separate products in the last 18 months. It has also hosted an array of consultations and workshops focussing on the cybersecurity of medical devices. The most recent product notice from the FDA, regarding an exploitable flaw in connected cardiac pacemakers, seems to be finally waking the industry up to the threats that connected technologies bring.
Fortunately, there are solutions which can allow healthcare innovation to continue unimpeded, and plenty of lessons that can be learned from experiences in other areas. The rulebook for minimizing the risk of unauthorised access, and limiting potential damage in the event of a device being compromised, is broadly the same as protecting other connected and operational technologies: better collaboration, lifecycle management, network monitoring and a “secure by design” ethos to new products.
What we don’t have is time: securing medical devices is a life and death issue, and most in the field fear that a new major attack is imminent. Vendors, practitioners and security experts must all work closely together to combat the well-funded actors who pose a threat.
Connected healthcare
The benefits of connected medical devices are unquestionable, with much progress being made in terms of treatments and cures. For example, we’ve already seen low cost blood sugar monitoring implants that can synchronize with a smartphone to help diabetics manage their condition. Networked X-ray and ultrasound machines that can deliver instant images to a practitioner’s desktop are also speeding up diagnosis and treatments in emergency rooms from Seattle to Singapore.
The problem is as medical devices have become increasingly connected, they have also become exposed to an array of potential security flaws. This connectivity and the benefits it has bestowed upon us, such as remote monitoring and data gathering and analysis, has brought with it new risks.
When the WannaCry ransomware shut down large sections of the UK National Health Service’s IT systems earlier this year, it was aiming to disrupt services in order to achieve ransom payments on behalf of its creators.
The diagnosis
Healthcare providers should be well aware of these dangers as security experts have been warning of them for many years. At the very least, medical device manufacturers need to be conscious of the legislative work around the world that is aimed at enforcing better protection of networks and systems. Close reading of new data privacy and breach disclosure laws will help encourage good practice, and in the US the FDA has strict requirements around public safety and is acutely aware of the issues, as demonstrated by the recent pacemaker recall.
We know that bad actors will always find new exploits and methods of attack, so part of the Secure SDLC process includes future vigilance for unexpected behaviors which could indicate a novel threat has been found.
In terms of the infrastructure for connected medical devices, more care needs to be taken with proper network segmentation. This will help reduce the risk of unauthorized access or cross-infection from IT systems, and will further secure new devices and help protect the many legacy devices out there. Done correctly, this doesn’t mean any less convenience – those X-rays will still make it to the GP’s desk at speed – but the extra steps of protection must be in place.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT, Android Botnets Emerge as Powerful DDoS Tools: Akamai
http://www.securityweek.com/iot-android-botnets-emerge-powerful-ddos-tools-akamai
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks observed during the third quarter employed familiar vectors, but a newcomer that made headlines for abusing Android devices is expected to evolve, a new Akamai report suggests.
This new threat is the Android-based WireX botnet, which managed to infect 150,000 devices within a matter of weeks, the company’s Third Quarter, 2017 State of the Internet / Security Report (PDF), points out. Distributed through legitimate-looking infected apps in Google Play, the botnet managed to spread fast and might have grown even bigger if it wasn’t for the joint effort of several tech companies.
Akamai, which was involved in the botnet’s takedown, expects WireX to persist, evolve, and flourish, the same as the infamous Mirai Internet of Things (IoT) botnet did. Highly active last year, Mirai had a much lower presence on the threat landscape during Q3, with the largest attack powered by it only peaking at 109 Gbps (gigabit per second).
Tomi Engdahl says:
The next best thing to teleportation
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170113-the-next-best-thing-to-teleportation
Living in one country and working in another will soon be common, thanks to remote-control robots. Future Now spoke with economist Richard Baldwin about how this trend could change the world.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Machine learning powers autonomous industrial systems
Semiconductor advancements make factories smarter, safer and more efficient
http://www.ti.com/lit/wp/sszy032/sszy032.pdf
Running a factory that perfects itself would
seem to be the ideal dream of a manufacturing
operations manager. What could be better than
having automated systems that learn from their
mistakes and continually improve?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Connect the physical with the digital
Leaders say, don’t let culture impede technology progress with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
https://www.plantengineering.com/single-article/connect-the-physical-with-the-digital/89b1389d8eac1a4135d2770b593cdf76.html
Bridging the divide between the physical and the digital worlds, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) transforms how companies function and how work gets done, based on gains in sensor and microcontroller technology, connectivity, and analytics. These emerging technologies are also conceptualized as Industrie 4.0.
Businesses focus on operational excellence to streamline and tighten production processes. Six Sigma techniques support these efforts. IIoT gives these companies an opportunity to go beyond Six Sigma, fool-proofing many activities and processes related to operational efficiency.
These trends see support in a survey from L&T Technology Services and ARC Advisory Group conducted at this year’s ARC Forum. Half the survey respondents were with large corporations having more than $10 billion in revenue. According to the survey results, 57% of business leaders and organizations embrace IIoT for operations-related work. Key focus areas for IIoT are to enable augmented operations, human-robot collaboration, advanced digital-product development, data-driven control of operations, and predictive maintenance.
Given the need
IIoT connects industrial assets and operations technology to information systems. Such an approach allows data aggregation and insights. Courtesy: L&T Technology ServicesLet’s take a step back to discuss what really makes up an IIoT architecture. In IIoT systems, industrial assets and operations technology (OT) such as materials, machines, and plant control systems, interconnect with information systems and technology (IT). Also connected are users, along with the enterprise business processes and technology (BT). Once connectivity and system data flow between OT-IT and BT is accomplished, data can be aggregated and analytics applied.
As insights are gained, smart decision-making leads to intelligent industrial-operation and business models. While conventional IIoT frameworks are available, a scalable and long-term approach integrates IT, OT, and BT. While IT deals with increasingly large databases, OT is about physical devices and processes, and BT is about business software applications.
The impact to come
According to a report by McKinsey & Co. Inc, IIoT will have a potential economic impact of up to $6.2 trillion by 2025. McKinsey lists IIoT as one of the key technologies capable of economic transformation. The future will see continuing transformation of industry on a global scale.
IIoT platforms will be a critical success factor for goods makers and services providers. Industries that leverage IIoT to integrate data, machines, and people will see impacts on productivity, efficiency, and operations. IIoT can be a life preserver in increasingly stormy seas, providing an intelligent technology framework, with benefits for a company, its partners, and customers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Powering automation and IIoT wirelessly
https://www.plantengineering.com/single-article/powering-automation-and-iiot-wirelessly/d0f6b7c768d9842018c4396d3f43e4f1.html
Battery-powered solutions are expanding the realm of industrial automation to virtually all external environments, enabling remote wireless devices to thrive throughout the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
ndustrial automation no longer is constrained to the factory floor. With the help of wireless communications and advanced lithium battery technology, the landscape is expanding rapidly to incorporate increasingly remote and hostile environments.
The explosion of wireless technology has fueled rapid expansion of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), allowing billions of wireless devices to become seamlessly networked and integrated while being liberated from the power grid.
Critical to this growth surge has been the evolution of low-power communications protocols, such as ZigBee, WirelessHART, and LoRa (a long range, low power wireless platform), and related technologies that permit two-way wireless communications while also extending battery life.
For example, the highway addressable remote transducer (HART) communications protocol has been providing a critical link between intelligent field instruments and host systems for decades, employing the same the caller ID technology found in analog telephony and operating via traditional 4-20 mA analog wiring. However, in the past, requirements for hard-wiring severely restricted the deployment of HART-enabled devices due to high initial expense, as it costs roughly $100 per foot to install any wired connection, even a basic electrical switch. This cost barrier becomes far more problematic in remote, environmentally sensitive locations, where complex logistical, regulatory, and permitting requirements cause expenses to skyrocket. Development of the WirelessHART protocol has eliminated all these constraints.
Choosing the ideal power source
The vast majority of remote wireless devices are powered by primary (non-rechargeable) lithium batteries. In addition, certain applications are well-suited to be powered by an energy harvesting device in conjunction with a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery to store the harvested energy.
Specifying an industrial-grade battery involves multiple parameters, such as energy consumed in active mode (including the size, duration, and frequency of pulses); energy consumed in dormant mode (the base current); storage time (as normal self-discharge during storage diminishes capacity); thermal environments (including storage and in-field operation); equipment cutoff voltage (as battery capacity is exhausted, or in extreme temperatures, voltage can drop to a point too low for the sensor to operate); battery self-discharge rate (which can be higher than the current draw from average sensor use); and cost considerations. Industrial-grade lithium batteries most commonly are recommended for applications that demand the following:
Reliability: The remote sensor is in a hard-to-reach location where battery replacement is difficult or impossible, and data links cannot be interrupted by bad batteries.
Long operating life: The self-discharge rate of the battery can be more than the device usage of the battery, so initial battery capacity must be as high as possible.
Wide operating temperatures: Especially critical for extremely hot or cold environments.
Small size: When a small form factor is required, the battery’s energy density must be as high as possible.
Voltage: Higher voltage requires fewer cells.
Lifetime costs: Replacement costs over time must be taken into account.
Tradeoffs often are inevitable, so it is important to prioritize your list of desired battery performance attributes.
Growth opportunities exist for energy harvesting
A growing number of industrial automation applications are deploying energy harvesting devices in conjunction with Li-ion rechargeable batteries. Photovoltaic cells are the most common form of energy harvesting, with equipment vibration and ambient RF/EM energy being used for niche applications.
Consumer-grade rechargeable Li-Ion cells can be used to store harvested energy if the device is easily accessible, requires a maximum service life of no more than five years and 500 recharge cycles, within a moderate temperature range (32°F to 104°F), and with no high pulse requirements.
Industrial grade energy harvesting applications typically demand a far more reliable power source, such as an industrial grade Li-Ion battery that can operate for up to 20 years and 5,000 full recharge cycles, with an expanded temperature range of -40°F to 185°F. These industrial grade cells also can deliver the high pulses (5 A for an AA-size cell) required for two-way wireless communications, and are more ruggedly constructed with a hermetic seal that is superior to the crimped seals found on consumer-grade rechargeable batteries, which may leak
Powering 50,000 heliostats
A prime example of an industrial grade energy harvesting application is the Ashilim power station in Israel, a futuristic solar power station that will use the sun’s energy to supply 121 MW of clean renewal energy, enough electricity to power more than 120,000 households, becoming the fifth largest facility of its kind in the world.
The Ashilim facility will feature 50,000 mirrors, called heliostats, which are controlled individually via wireless communications to actuate and control servo motors that allow each mirror to rotate and tilt precisely to concentrate energy toward a boiler that sits atop a tower. The concentrated solar energy boils water inside the tower to create high-temperature steam that powers conventional turbine engines that can produce up to 121 MW of electricity.
Each heliostat will be equipped with a small solar energy harvesting device along with a small battery pack consisting of six AA-size rechargeable Li-ion batteries. The rechargeable Li-ion battery will power the servo motors as well as power wireless communications to establish a mesh network that relays the data needed to synchronize the movement of all 50,000 mirrors. Making this application truly wireless eliminates the expense, complexity, and reliability concerns associated with installing and maintaining miles of wire and cable.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Capitalizing on IIoT to make better decisions
Improved data and analytics offer a greater insight into efficiency.
https://www.plantengineering.com/single-article/capitalizing-on-iiot-to-make-better-decisions/7e4676d6a833ab3aafa575aae4797e96.html
Five reasons why system integrators are critical assets for the IIoT
https://www.plantengineering.com/single-article/five-reasons-why-system-integrators-are-critical-assets-for-the-iiot/e3c28bc2cdabcab788cbee58c61ac514.html
System integrators can help expand the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for companies because they have a deep understanding of many systems and can work as a go-between for many departments as an independent and powerful voice
Tomi Engdahl says:
Explore an open IoT operating system
https://www.plantengineering.com/single-article/explore-an-open-iot-operating-system/d22e6bf9ba430ac8975a25fc904c7571.html
An open Internet of Things operating system (IoT OS) aims to help manufacturers. Siemens, at its recently opened Asia-Pacific Digital Experience Center, explained the purpose and benefits of its MindSphere IoT OS to Control Engineering China
How can a cloud-based operating system help manufacturing? MindSphere, the cloud-based, Internet of Things operating system from Siemens, is being demonstrated in China at the first Siemens Asia-Pacific “Digital Experience Center,” in Beijing, showing how a digital enterprise software operates within Industrie 4.0. What is MindSphere, what are its advantages, and what value will it create for enterprises?
CE China: What is MindSphere?
Li: Siemens defined MindSphere as its IoT operating system to provide uniform interfaces to realize broad equipment connectivity downward and offer a strong development and operating environment to all types of application software upward. It is easy for users to get the application program interfaces and services from MindSphere, just like app acquisition from the app stores for smart phones. Siemens hopes to focus on MindSphere to build an open-ended ecological system. Developers can join the related ecological system and collaborate with others to develop the application software, with proficiency in a certain field, in a specific vertical marketplace, with application expertise. The value chain includes equipment manufacturers, end users, data acquisition developers, system integrators, application developers, and channel partners.
CE China: How is the software used?
Li: As for all enterprises, the first step of digital strategy implementation is data collection. Regardless of the cloud software, MindSphere gets data from Siemens products, and helps other customers and those joining MindSphere to connect industrial equipment by:
1. Connect: Get the user account in MindSphere and integrate the connecting terminal into the equipment.
2. Configure: Make use of asset configuration functions to configure the data acquisition and connections in MindSphere.
3. Use operation services: A fleet manager can check equipment health in MindSphere, then take advantage of a visual analyzer to view details. When Siemens MindConnect Nano is applied, one power line and two network cables will be inserted for operation within half an hour.
CE China: What are the advantages of MindSphere?
Li: Many IoT operating systems from Internet companies are similar. Compared to other cloud platforms, MindSphere has the following advantages:
1. From bottom to top: For digitization, Siemens develops from bottom to top, starting with the mechanical floor. A broad spectrum of production lines for automation and electrification
2. Vertical market understanding: A typical original equipment manufacturer (OEM) doesn’t get a lot of integrated IT and automation data. Integrating production data about gears and bearings in the application of mechanical equipment and automation may be more practical.
3. Openness: MindSphere can support Siemens equipment and many third-party devices, with a compatible application programming interface (API) on a data acquisition terminal. MindSphere also provides a friendly development environment and open API so third parties can develop applications for MindSphere.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why You Should Use Your Router As A Security Camera
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/28/why-you-should-use-your-router-as-a-security-camera/
A home security camera can be great for peace of mind, and keeping an eye on the house while you’re away. The popular option these days is an IP-based device that is accessible over the Internet through an ethernet or wireless connection to your home router. But what if you could cut out the middle man, and instead turn your router itself into the security camera? [Fred] is here to show us how it’s done.
Netgear Nighthawk R7800 : add USB camera support to create a security webcam
http://www.fredericb.info/2017/11/netgear-nighthawk-r7800-add-usb-camera-support-to-create-a-security-webcam.html
Posted on Wed 22 November 2017 in Article
This article explains how to customize Nighthawk X4S firmware to add a security camera feature to this always-online & almost-always-idle device. Alternative firmwares like OpenWRT or LEDE exist, but they don’t fully support all stock features yet. So instead this approach is based on modified stock firmware.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FDA Approves World’s First Pill with an Embedded Sensor
https://www.designnews.com/electronics-test/fda-approves-worlds-first-pill-embedded-sensor/102193146757834?ADTRK=UBM&elq_mid=2203&elq_cid=876648
Add prescription pills to the growing list of IoT devices. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a “digital” prescription pill with an embedded sensor that detects when it is taken.
You can prescribe a patient medication, but you can’t make them take it. Patient compliance has always been an issue in healthcare and one that digital health technologies such as wearables have tried to address. According to The New England Journal of Medicine an estimated 33 to 69 percent of medication-related hospital admissions in the US are due to poor medication adherence, meaning anywhere from about a third to over half of patients are not taking their medications when or as often as they should.
This week the FDA approved a new technology geared toward patient compliance in the form of a prescription pill with a digital sensor embedded in it that lets doctors digitally track just how often a patient is taking his or her medication. The sensor was developed by Proteus Digital Health
The pill in question is Abilify MyCite, a variation of Abilify, a popular medication for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and some cases of depression, manufactured by Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical. “Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be useful for some patients,”
Proteus did not respond for requests for comment on the nature of its current pill sensor, but in previous reports with Design News’ sister publication MD+DI , company CEO Andrew Thompson laid out the workings of at least an early version. According to Thompson, Proteus’ innovation has come from the miniaturization. If you’ve ever made a lemon or potato battery as a science project, you’ve seen the basic principle underlying the IEM sensor.
According to a study published in 2015 by Proteus engineers and researchers in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Proteus’ sensor, the IEM consists of three layers: an active layer, a 1 mm × 0.3 mm CMOS chip, and an insulation skirt layer, meaning the chip is sandwiched between a layer of magnesium on one side and copper on the other. Thompson reported the IEM silicon wafer as measuring 800 × 300-µm.
After it is swallowed, the sensor comes into contact with the patient’s stomach fluid, creating an electrochemical reaction that powers the chip until the electrode materials are fully dissolved. The IEEE study estimated the current at about 1.85 V.
In essence, the sensor is not a mini WIFI, Bluetooth, or radio antenna – it’s a detectable power source. The electric signal transmits a binary number that represents the medication and its dosage. The code is stored in the integrated circuit, which modulates the current. The device’s insulating skirt shapes the electric field produced by the electrochemical reaction and propagates it through the surrounding tissue, where it can be detected by a skin-worn patch (The MyCite Patch), which records the date and time of the ingestion as well some patient vitals it detects on its own, and can store them on the MyCite’s accompanying smartphone app.
Abilify MyCite does come with warnings however. The IEEE study notes that the power and strength of the signal can depend on a number of factors such the amount of food or even other medications in the patient’s stomach. According to Proteus it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after Abilify MyCite is ingested for the patch to record a signal. And the company admits it is possible that a signal won’t be picked up at all.
The FDA has stated, and noted on Abilify MyCite’s labeling, that the product has not been shown to improve patient compliance. Because of the long time delay in picking up a signal, the FDA also states that Abilify MyCite should not be used for real-time tracking or during emergencies.
While the Abilify MyCite system is a closed loop (pill, patch, and smartphone app) one has to wonder about the implications of opening up the technology to the wider IoT space. It’s not difficult to imagine an in-home network in which you receive reminders to take your medication via some devices in your smart home and then the pill system then letting your home network know you’ve taken your medication.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rethink Adds KPI Collection, Extra Cameras to Sawyer
Rethink Robotics collaborative robot Sawyer can now tell you its work count and production speed.
https://www.designnews.com/automation-motion-control/rethink-adds-kpi-collection-extra-cameras-sawyer/19692203457813?ADTRK=UBM&elq_mid=2203&elq_cid=876648
Tomi Engdahl says:
Simultaneous Touchless Monitoring of Several Patients’ Vital Signs
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/diagnostics/touchless-monitoring-of-vital-signs-of-several-patients-at-once
Hospitals might soon be able to keep tabs on the health of dozens of people from afar. Engineers have come up with a new touch-free method for monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing of several people at the same time.
A small RFID tag placed near the body—say, in a shirt pocket or wrist cuff—is all the system needs in order to read these vital signs.
Continuously monitoring vital signs can be a nuisance. It requires electrodes stuck to skin amid a tangle of wires, or tight arm cuffs and sitting still. Wearable sensors like wristbands, soft wireless patches, and temporary tattoos can gather this information, but those might not often be a good option for the elderly, infants, or people with medical conditions.
Measuring vital signs without any skin contact is already possible with radio waves. For tracking respiration, the idea is to bounce RF beams off someone’s body and measure the periodic changes in the reflected signal caused by the person’s breathing. But measuring heartbeat is more challenging.
The system requires a small antenna and RFID tag to be placed near the chest and a wrist; they can be up to 10 centimeters away from the body. An RFID reader is placed two meters away.
The antenna directs part of the electromagnetic energy from the RFID reader into body tissue using near-field coupling, and reflects part of it back to the receiver. The receiver reads both the amplitude and phase of the reflected signal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AWS adds dedicated analytics service for IoT data
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/29/aws-adds-dedicated-analytics-service-for-iot-data/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
AWS launched a dedicated IoT analytics service called AWS IoT Analytics today at its re:Invent customer conference in Las Vegas.
According to Tara Walker in a company blog post, this is about providing a way to manage all of that data. “With the AWS IoT Analytics service, you can process messages, gather and store large amounts of device data, as well as, query your data. Also, the new AWS IoT Analytics service feature integrates with Amazon Quicksight for visualization of your data and brings the power of machine learning through integration with Jupyter Notebooks.”
Presenting AWS IoT Analytics: Delivering IoT Analytics at Scale and Faster than Ever Before
https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/launch-presenting-aws-iot-analytics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon sold ‘millions’ of Alexa devices over the holiday shopping weekend
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/28/amazon-sold-millions-of-alexa-devices-over-the-holiday-shopping-weekend/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
On the heels of news that Amazon may have accounted for half of Black Friday online sales, the retailer today announced that the Black Friday holiday shopping weekend – which it defines as Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday – was its best-ever, in terms of Amazon devices sold. The company historically doesn’t release hard numbers related to its device sales. Instead, it claims that “millions” of Alexa devices were sold during this time frame.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Test-and-measurement Design Center > How To Article
Bluetooth 5: More speeds, more range, new RF tests
https://www.edn.com/design/test-and-measurement/4459086/Bluetooth-5–More-speeds–more-range–new-RF-tests?utm_content=buffer2135d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Skill Shortage Ahead
https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1332655&_mc=RSS_EET_EDT
The growing Internet of Things is opening up a new range of jobs that require specific IoT skills–and we’re already seeing a shortage of qualified candidates.
According to Zebra Technologies’ inaugural Intelligent Enterprise Index, 62 percent of companies plan to deploy IoT initiatives company-wide in the future and 42 percent of enterprises are spending at least $3.1 million annually on IoT. So, there’s a time crunch to ramp up training and education to catch up to the demand for the needed skills.
The industry is currently experiencing a major shortage of qualified IoT professionals, and it could persist for the next five to seven years. This shortage is echoed across artificial intelligence and DevOps, and is becoming increasingly acute.
The first step toward mitigating the staffing crisis is by offering specific certifications and intensive boot camps geared to the new trends and high demand roles. This will fill some of the most critical and urgent positions, but only gets us so far.
Because IoT and AI also involve handling sensitive data and humanitarian issues these areas require candidates that have soft skills.
In a recent Northeastern University survey of 500 members of the IEEE 38% of respondents ranked data aggregation and analysis as the biggest career challenges.
Particularly in Silicon Valley, we see many individuals with liberal-arts backgrounds who would be extremely successfully in technical roles, provided they get the required education.
This new population of IT leaders will have the emotional intelligence to guide complex conversations about the collision of digital and legacy cultures.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Different Approaches To Security
https://semiengineering.com/different-approaches-to-security/
Platform approaches, better understanding of security holes and new technologies could help deter attackers.
Everyone acknowledges the necessity for cybersecurity precautions, yet the world continues to be challenged by an invisible, inventive army of hackers.
The massive data breach at Equifax was only the latest in a series of successful cyberattacks on the credit monitoring firm.
And to drive home the importance of cybersecurity, Arm distributed a “Security Manifesto” to all attendees at the keynote session with Segars, Aiken, and others.
In the manifesto and her keynote remarks, Aiken emphasized the role of ordinary people in maintaining proper cybersecurity hygiene. “People are their own first line of defense, but not everybody behaves responsibly,” she wrote. “We are not all IT experts, and security is not always built into devices and systems by default.”
“As technology providers we must embrace our responsibilities under what we are calling the ‘Digital Social Contract’ and endeavor to protect users no matter what,” Segars wrote. “The approaches and thinking we set out in this Manifesto can make a difference, and I can see a world where we will have put hackers out of business.”
Those are lofty ambitions, to be sure, but they are also prerequisites for such markets as the IoT, the industrial IoT, and medical technology to live up to their full potential.
“[Cryptographer] Bruce Schneier said a couple of decades ago that if you think the technology can solve your security problems, then you don’t understand the problem and you don’t understand the solution,”
Platform approach
One way to reduce security issues is to utilize a platform approach—basically updating the platform as necessary, rather than trying to secure every device. Most of the major chip vendors have security built into their architectures, but Arm has extended that with a common framework for the IoT with its Platform Security Architecture.
“That’s something we need to start building in,” said Ian Smythe, senior director of marketing programs for Arm’s CPU Group. “Security is multilayer. We have a range of IP within that security layer. We have a history in security.”
Arm has enlisted Amazon, Cisco and Google in supporting the Platform Security Architecture, which will become available to IoT device developers in the first quarter of next year.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The cooler smart mailbox won the Elisa innovation competition
The winner of the Elisa Innovation Challenge 2017 telecoms operator today resolved today at the Slush event. Among the three finalists, the iqBox, a Finnish smart mailbox developed by the iQBox, was awarded a prize with a prize of € 50,000.
A new mobile iqBox intelligent mailbox can keep food supplies fresh when a customer is not there to receive an order. The solution is based on intelligence and cloud computing and a fully open ecosystem capable of connecting any transport service.
” We would solve the problem of receiving food supplies while ensuring that the cold chain is uninterrupted. The energy-efficient smart mailbox has remote control locks and on-hook freezing, controlled by mobile application via cloud service. says Markus Heikkilä, iqBox .
Source: https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2017/11/30/kylmeneva-alypostilaatikko-voitti-innovaatiokilpailun/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Watch Out, Facial Recognition! Data-Storing Smart Clothes Have Arrived
https://www.eeweb.com/profile/nicole-digiose/articles/watch-out-facial-recognition-data-storing-smart-clothes-have-arrived
Computer scientists at the University of Washington created fabrics and fashion accessories that can store data – from security codes to ID tags – without the use of electronics or sensors
Well, here’s clear evidence that we’re inching closer to a world that once seemed far off in the future. By using magnetic properties of conductive thread, researchers at the University of Washington have successfully stored data in fabric. Developed at the university and dubbed as a “smart fabric,” the material aims to pave the way for jackets that store invisible passcodes so you can open the door to your apartment or office with the wave of an arm.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Test-and-measurement Design Center > How To Article
Bluetooth 5: More speeds, more range, new RF tests
https://www.edn.com/design/test-and-measurement/4459086/Bluetooth-5–More-speeds–more-range–new-RF-tests
Tomi Engdahl says:
MCUs secure industrial IoT designs
https://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4459105/MCUs-secure-industrial-IoT-designs
Renesas expands its RX65N/RX651 line of MCUs with devices that integrate a Trusted Secure IP driver and support for HMI (human machine interface) applications. These microcontrollers are based on an RXv2 core with a maximum operating frequency of 120 MHz and provide as much as 2 Mbytes of code flash and 640 kbytes of SRAM. They also permit seamless flash firmware updates in the field through secure network communications.
Integrated Trusted Secure IP enables system control engineers to realize high root-of-trust levels for device operation through a combination of features, such as encryption-key and boot-code protection.
Prices for the RX65N microcontroller start at about $7.58 each in lots of 1000 units.
https://www.renesas.com/en-us/products/microcontrollers-microprocessors/rx/rx600/rx65n-651.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Industrie 4.0
https://www.mentor.com/embedded-software/iot/?contactid=1&PC=L&c=2017_11_30_esd_newsletter_update_v11_november
The digitalization and automation of Industrie 4.0—also referred to as Industry 4.0—are driving deep changes within industrial applications throughout the world today.
OEMs and manufacturers alike are implementing extensive programs to gain transparency into supply chains and production systems to enable entirely new and innovative business models. Already Industrie 4.0 is being used across every stage of the value chain, giving customers a competitive edge through greater flexibility, efficiency, and quality.
challenges of realizing devices that empower Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industrie 4.0 initiatives.
Industrial IoT from Mentor Embedded at ARC Forum 2016
https://www.mentor.com/embedded-software/resources/overview/industrial-iot-from-mentor-embedded-at-arc-forum-2016-853809ec-c3bd-4863-81d4-9109c184e101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Building Functional Safety and Security into Modern IIoT Enterprises and Ecosystems
https://www.mentor.com/embedded-software/resources/overview/building-functional-safety-and-security-into-modern-iiot-enterprises-and-ecosystems-69c7beee-1358-410c-8d03-a0fa2b2ae1a8
There is no question that safety and security cannot be emphasized enough in today’s world of Industrial IoT (IIoT), but you can build safe and secure RTOS, Linux®, and Android environments. IEC 61508, IEC 62062, ISO 13849, IEC 61511, and ISO 10218 are all safety standards in place today to maximize safety and minimize risk in industrial devices with embedded software. These standards help define a systematic approach to safety management with the incorporation of safety thought-processes in the product development process
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon artificial intelligence comes to the office
Amazon re-invented yesterday a re-invent developer event in which it announced that it would extend the use of artificial intelligence from the home’s digital assistant to the office. Through deep-seated services, Amazon wants to revolutionize office work now and bring the learning of machine learning to everyone’s reach.
additional know-how is needed to enable the template within the app. In short, machine learning – or artificial intelligence – has been beyond the reach of most developers.
This Amazon wants to change the product palette, which includes five new services and a video camera that is fully programmable and can run advanced artificial intelligence applications. Developers can train models in the AWS cloud and transfer them to the DeepLens camera with a few clicks.
From new applications, SageMaker enables the development of machine learning models with a flyer to justify the company’s Amazing S3 cloud data. If the developer does not come up with machine learning algorithms, new applications can be developed with four new, ready-made services.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7245-amazonin-tekoaly-tulee-toimistoon
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon brought a free operating system for IoT circuits
If you want to develop an IoT device and connect it to Amazone’s cloud service, you have to do anything other than simple. Now, however, Amazon has made it easier by introducing the new operating system for microcontrollers. Amazon FreeRTOS is also free.
Of course, FreeRTOS has been in use by developers for a long time. It operates many devices that do not need the right microprocessors. Such as smoke alarms. However, connecting these to the internet or the company’s IoT network has been challenging.
Amazon has now taken this open code realtime operating system and tuned it to its own version. It allows millions of IoT devices to be connected to the network either directly or via the AWS Greengrass software.
Immediately after the announcement of Amazon, partners’ newsletters began to appear. IAR Systems, a development tool, announced that it will support the development of its Amazon FreeRTOS platform in its own Embedded Workbench environment. STMIcroelectronic, meanwhile, announced its support for the Amazone operating system for its STM32 series microcontrollers.
Roughly speaking, the new operating system is an extension of FreeRTOS, which includes libraries for local and cloud computing. Re: In his invent-event, Amazon hinted to increase the operating system later, also support for OTA updates.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7246-amazon-toi-ilmaisen-kayttojarjestelman-iot-piireille
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Ethernet MCU Could Simplify Creation of Sensor Networks
Texas Instruments’ new MCU is targeted at Ethernet-based gateways.
https://www.designnews.com/iot/new-ethernet-mcu-could-simplify-creation-sensor-networks/193206689957883?ADTRK=UBM&elq_mid=2234&elq_cid=876648
A new family of microcontrollers (MCU) from Texas Instruments Inc. promises to simplify the process of creating wired and wireless sensor networks for factory automation, building control, and other IoT applications.
SimpleLink MSP432 Ethernet MCUs are said to help design engineers by enabling them to more easily create Ethernet-based gateways, which are going to be increasingly important for applications with large numbers of sensors. “We solve the Ethernet hardware problem for our customers by putting everything into a single chip,” noted Dung Dang, product marketing engineer for Texas Instruments. “So they can shrink the size of their (circuit) board, spend less time debugging their layout, and spend more time focusing on their application.”
The new MCUs are based on a 120-MHz ARM Cortex-MF4 core. They are said to reduce design time and simplify board layout because they incorporate the Ethernet physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC), along with USB and CAN. By integrating the MAC and PHY, in particular, the MSP432E411Y MCU eliminates the need for the developer to lay out a board with as many as 20 external components in order to accommodate Ethernet.
“By putting all that inside the chip, we’ve made it easier for the developer,” Dang told Design News. “So they don’t have to worry about all the intricacies of Ethernet IP.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
AWS Launches New Cybersecurity Services
http://www.securityweek.com/aws-launches-new-cybersecurity-services
IoT Services
AWS also announced the launch of several new services designed for managing, protecting and monitoring Internet of Things (IoT) devices. These are AWS IoT 1-Click, IoT Device Management, IoT Device Defender, IoT Analytics, Amazon FreeRTOS, and Greengrass ML Inference.
Three of the new IoT services help improve security. AWS IoT Device Management, which is available immediately, allows organizations to securely onboard, manage and monitor IoT devices, including to apply patches and software updates.
AWS IoT Device Defender, expected to become available in the first half of 2018, monitors devices for any suspicious activity, such as traffic going to an unknown IP, and ensures that IoT systems are compliant with security policies.
Amazon FreeRTOS allows users to securely connect small, low-power devices that use the FreeRTOS operating system (e.g. light bulbs, motion sensors) to AWS cloud services. The list of microcontroller manufacturers that support Amazon FreeRTOS includes Microchip, NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Arm, IAR, Percepio, and WITTENSTEIN.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Zigbee-Based Wireless Arduinos, Demystified
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/29/zigbee-based-wireless-arduinos-demystified/
Hackday regular [Akiba] is working on a series of video tutorials guiding newbies into the world of the 802.15.4 wireless protocol stack — also known as ZigBee. So far, his tutorials include a “getting started with chibiArduino”, his own Arduino-based wireless library, as well as a more basic tutorial on how radio works.
Wireless Communications with chibiArduino 01: Hello Wireless World
https://freaklabs.org/wireless-communications-with-chibiarduino-01-hello-wireless-world/
Tomi Engdahl says:
espSocket
An attempt to retrofit cheap RF plug sockets with WiFi.
https://hackaday.io/project/28398-espsocket
For a while I’ve wanted to make a safe, tidy UK plug socket with an integral relay and esp8266 for WiFi control. This project is an attempt to make a drop-in replacement PCB for the cheap Status brand plug sockets that are widely available in the UK.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Skill Shortage Ahead
https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1332655&
The growing Internet of Things is opening up a new range of jobs that require specific IoT skills–and we’re already seeing a shortage of qualified candidates.
According to Zebra Technologies’ inaugural Intelligent Enterprise Index, 62 percent of companies plan to deploy IoT initiatives company-wide in the future and 42 percent of enterprises are spending at least $3.1 million annually on IoT. So, there’s a time crunch to ramp up training and education to catch up to the demand for the needed skills.
Because IoT and AI also involve handling sensitive data and humanitarian issues these areas require candidates that have soft skills. Such candidates are likely to be far more successful than those who are solely skilled in technical aspects.
Tomi Engdahl says:
6 Short Stories from the IoT
Collaborative software for robots, drones
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332673
Startup Swarm Technology aims to enable fleets of drones and robots to collaborate on shared tasks.
Startup Chirp showed its software enabling communications in what it hopes will be one of the hot toys of the holiday season.
The Singing Kumi dolls use the company’s audio coding technology to receive up to a kilobit/second of data from sounds embedded in a Netflix program. An ARM microcontroller in the dolls interprets barely audible chirping sounds into commands that make them light up and sing in synch with the video.
Advantech is taking an agnostic approach to IoT networking. It showed end node boards (above) and gateways using the LoRa low power wide area network. However, it swaps out M.2 modules on the systems to enable variants that support NB-IoT cellular and Sigfox networks.
Systena America showed a full range of LoRa products (above) from parking and chemical/gas sensors to gateways and other end nodes as well as plans to set up a trial LoRa net in San Francisco.
Like Advantech, Define Instruments is taking a network-agnostic approach to the industrial IoT. It supports 3/4G cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi today and expects to add on LTE Cat M modems next year.
Contract design firm Breadware showed its Mega-B IoT prototyping board. The Arduino Mega includes the company’s own daughtercard, as many as two dozen modular sensors and software that automatically loads the right driver when sensor modules are dropped in place. The $189 boards are already used by students at Stanford and at HP Labs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
Google announces $45 AIY Vision Kit for Raspberry Pi, touting it as a cheap and simple computer vision system that doesn’t require access to cloud processing
Google is making a computer vision kit for Raspberry Pi
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/30/16720322/google-aiy-vision-kit-raspberry-pi-announce-release
Google is offering a new way for Raspberry Pi tinkerers to use its AI tools. It just announced the AIY Vision Kit, which includes a new circuit board and computer vision software that buyers can pair with their own Raspberry Pi computer and camera. (There’s also a cute cardboard box included, along with some supplementary accessories.) The kit costs $44.99 and will ship through Micro Center on December 31st.
The AIY Vision Kit’s software includes three neural network models: one that recognizes a thousand common objects; one that recognizes faces and expressions; and a “a person, cat and dog detector.” Users can train their own models with Google’s TensorFlow machine learning software.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Amazon announces Alexa for Business, with launch partners who have developed skills for business customers, and a new marketplace for business apps
Amazon officially unveils Alexa for Business
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/30/amazon-officially-unveils-alexa-for-business.html
Alexa for Business includes management tools and new integrations with enterprise software.
Administrators can also provide private skills to employees.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Amazon begins letting select developers monetize Alexa Skills via in-skill purchases, available in a handful of trivia games to start
Amazon adds in-skill purchases to Alexa
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/29/amazon-adds-in-skill-purchases-for-alexa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Christina Farr / CNBC:
Apple partners with Stanford University to launch heart research study using a new Apple Watch app to detect and collect data on abnormal heart rhythms
Apple COO Jeff Williams on Apple Watch heart study: ‘Hopefully we can save a lot of lives’
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/30/apple-coo-jeff-williams-heart-study-interview.html
Apple is facilitating a massive heart study that will use the Apple Watch to detect a heart abnormality called atrial fibrillation, responsible for 130,000 deaths a year in the U.S.
The watch will use LED lights, light-sensitive conductors and software to monitor blood flow to look for abnormalities.
Because the study is available to anybody over age 22 and is mobile, Apple COO Jeff Williams says it’s an opportunity to “save a lot of lives.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Edge Gateways Emerging as Enterprise Connectivity Option
https://www.designnews.com/automation-motion-control/iot-edge-gateways-emerging-enterprise-connectivity-option/64826465457861?ADTRK=UBM&elq_mid=2264&elq_cid=876648
Edge gateways are using the MQTT protocol as a way to enable secure data flow between edge devices and the cloud, and create a new class of IIoT connectivity
Industrial IoT edge gateways represent an emerging product category and key technology for connecting both legacy controllers and edge devices to the Internet of Things (IoT). Along with integrating a variety of protocols for networking, they provide resources for managing data storage and analytics, along with enabling secure data flow between edge devices and cloud services.
New Option for IIoT Applications
The idea behind edge gateways is to provide a way to use data already created by operational technology and translate data from existing control applications into IoT-friendly formats that can be easily accessed via the cloud. One argument is that, because data is often aggregated and displayed for operators on a Human Machine Interface (HMI), the same data can be presented to other users and provides a powerful additional capability for IoT applications.
By building MQTT support into the HMI, data can be organized into topics and presented to upstream IT applications in a flexible, modular and efficient way. According to the Maple Systems website, “The MQTT broker is responsible for maintaining client connections and sending/receiving messages. Client devices, edge gateways, and IT applications (or publishers/subscribers in MQTT language), are freed up to focus on producing and consuming data.”
It’s easy to see how, as MQTT is a lightweight protocol, and up to 1,000 connected clients can be easily supported, the ability to publish data as topics can provide an effective method for monitoring a specific machine or industrial process. The more difficult task seems to be the application programming and analytics required to transform raw data into actionable information.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AT&T’s LTE-M Button is basically a programmable 4G Amazon Dash Button for businesses
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/30/atts-lte-m-button-is-basically-a-programmable-4g-amazon-dash-button-for-businesses/?ncid=rss&utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Alexa’s not the only Amazon property that’s getting a workplace component at this week at AWS Re:Invent. The LTE-M Button isn’t branded as a Dash Button, but it works in much the same way. Basically it’s a hunk of plastic which, when pressed, will perform one specific task — namely buying stuff online.
Unlike all of the pre-programmed Dash Buttons, this AT&T and AWS Web Services joint ships as a clean slate. A company buys the thing and programs tasks in using Amazon’s AWS IOT service.
AT&T and Amazon Web Services Boost Internet of Things
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-and-amazon-web-services-boost-internet-of-things-300564382.html
AT&T to Introduce an AWS-supported LTE-M Button for Business; Expands IoT Collaboration with AWS to Include Security and Integrated Solutions
Tomi Engdahl says:
Larry Dignan / ZDNet:
At re:Invent, AWS pitched its vision to be the platform developers use to build machine learning, data management, and artificial intelligence applications — It’s time to stop thinking of Amazon Web Services as an infrastructure company as it moves up the stack and value chain to technologies …
Re:Invent 2017: AWS all about capturing data flows via AI, Alexa, database, IoT cloud services
http://www.zdnet.com/article/reinvent-2017-aws-all-about-capturing-data-flows-via-ai-alexa-database-iot-cloud-services/
It’s time to stop thinking of Amazon Web Services as an infrastructure company as it moves up the stack and value chain to technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT and Alexa for Business.
Tomi Engdahl says:
‘Spy’ F-35s send sensitive Norwegian military data back to Lockheed Martin in the United States
http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/spy-f35s-send-sensitive-norwegian-military-data-back-to-lockheed-martin-in-the-united-states/news-story/12b4fafce6b579448cc8416518063d1f
THE marketing campaign makes it clear: The F-35 justifies its enormous cost and limited weapons load by being sneaky and enormously well informed.
But its international customers probably didn’t expect this.
Norwegian defence officials have caught one of their new $A120 million (less research and development costs) F-35A Lightning II Block 3F stealth jets sending sensitive data back to its US manufacturer — Lockheed Martin.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Internet of Things Opens Possibilities
https://hackaday.com/2017/12/03/internet-of-things-opens-possibilities/
While a lot of hardware gets put on the “Internet of Things” with only marginal or questionable benefits (or with hilariously poor security), every now and then a project makes use of this new platform in a way that illustrates the strengths of IoT. [ThingEngineer] turned to this platform as a cost-effective solution for an automatic gate, since new keyfobs were too expensive and a keypad was not an option.
Using an Electric IMP, [ThingEngineer] began by installing his IoT patch into the LiftMaster gate control box. This particular gate has easily accessible points that the controller can access to determine the gate’s status, so from there, an API was written to do the heavy lifting.
WebApp Controlled Gate Operator Add-on (IoT)
http://www.instructables.com/id/IoT-Gate-Opperator-Addon/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here, Which Makes Digital Road Maps, Moves Into Over-the-Air Updates
http://www.mwrf.com/software/here-which-makes-digital-road-maps-moves-over-air-updates?code=UM_Classics12117&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=14368&utm_medium=email&elq2=aedcb44ec29e4684a12683c96380630b
Here, which drafts digital road maps for the automotive industry, said that it had acquired Germany’s Advanced Telematic Systems, whose software stack allows infotainment and advanced driver assisted systems in cars to be updated wirelessly, closing security gaps and making upgrades.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Walmart Calls for Sub-$1 IoT Sensor
Retailer wants to lick-and-stick for pennies
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332669
Chris Enslin wants a sub-$1 sensor for the Internet of Things. For the right product, his company might be willing to purchase a few million of them — a year.
The vice president for digital enterprise solutions at Walmart shared his thoughts on IoT, machine learning, and more in a wide-ranging interview. Perhaps the most interesting item on his wish list is a good, cheap sensor.
“Lick-and-stick sensors with probes at our scale are still considered very expensive … I would love a sensor that senses movement, heat, and vibration … preferably running on energy harvesting since batteries typically only last 12 to 18 months … and I would love to get it for pennies,” said Enslin, who heads up a 500-person team working on IoT, robotics, and AI for the giant retailer.
“Some in retail have sensors with a bill of materials just below $10 — that’s very expensive at our scale. We have nearly 12,000 stores.”
Such sensors could, “in theory, be on each item you sell … intelligent packaging someday could help re-order products from home when they get low,” he added.
The company’s current use of IoT is “fairly immature. We haven’t tapped into the potential of an end-to end platform,” said Enslin. “We use sensors in refrigerators in stores and heat/vibration/color sensors and some computer vision to read codes for streaming analytics to each store to predict and prescribe preventative maintenance and food safety. It replaces a log management system.”
“At our scale, just changing light bulbs is a huge P/L. EEs on our team are interested in using LEDs as beacons.
Long-term, Walmart hopes to gather enough IoT data to create digital models of its stores. The models can help it decide optimal ways to lay out merchandise.
Meanwhile, in Walmart’s distribution centers, the company is exploring ways of combining AR/VR, computer vision, robotics — and even drones. “Computer vision is becoming more robust, and combined with drones in distribution centers, it lets us inspect and monitor traffic and goods,” said Enslin.
Tomi Engdahl says:
6 Short Stories from the IoT
Collaborative software for robots, drones
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332673
Startup Swarm Technology aims to enable fleets of drones and robots to collaborate on shared tasks. It was one of several examples of smart, connected things that continue their march into everything from toys to factories on display at the IoT Expo here.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Skill Shortage Ahead
https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1332655&
The growing Internet of Things is opening up a new range of jobs that require specific IoT skills–and we’re already seeing a shortage of qualified candidates.
According to Zebra Technologies’ inaugural Intelligent Enterprise Index, 62 percent of companies plan to deploy IoT initiatives company-wide in the future and 42 percent of enterprises are spending at least $3.1 million annually on IoT. So, there’s a time crunch to ramp up training and education to catch up to the demand for the needed skills.
The industry is currently experiencing a major shortage of qualified IoT professionals, and it could persist for the next five to seven years. This shortage is echoed across artificial intelligence and DevOps, and is becoming increasingly acute.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Is Oomi the all-in-one smart home system we’ve been waiting for?
Maybe. After the bugs are cleaned out…
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/12/02/oomi_smart_home_review/
ypically when reviewing new electronic products – especially if it’s a system of interacting components – you start from a very positive place.
You imagine you could have in your hands the next big device – the thing everyone will be getting excited about in a few months’ time – and then slowly, as you find its bugs and flaws, you fall out of love with it.
Weirdly, for the Oomi smart-home system, it was the other way around – at least for this reviewer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Week in Review: IoT
Emerson gives up; IOTA launch; Uptake raises $117M.
https://semiengineering.com/the-week-in-review-iot-74/
At this week’s AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Amazon Web Services introduced a number of products and services for the Internet of Things, machine learning, and other areas. These include Amazon FreeRTOS (an operating system for IoT microcontrollers), AWS IoT Device Defender (security management), AWS IoT 1-Click, AWS IoT Device Management, AWS IoT Analytics, and AWS Greengrass ML Inference (machine learning models). On the machine learning tip, the company introed Amazon Comprehend, AWS DeepLens (a deep-learning video camera), Amazon Rekognition Video (a deep-learning video analysis service), Amazon SageMaker (machine learning models), Amazon Translate, and Amazon Transcribe.
NXP Semiconductors uncorked an IoT module, based on its LPC54018 microcontroller. The module was developed with Embedded Artists. NXP also said it supports Amazon’s FreeRTOS.
IOTA has debuted a data marketplace for the IoT, drawing participation from Accenture, Bosch, Cisco Systems, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom, Fujitsu, Microsoft, Orange, PwC, Samsung Electronics, Schneider Electric, and nine other companies.
Vesper Technologies brought out the VM2000, a MEMS microphone for smart speakers, smart home systems, and IoT devices.
Emerson Electric withdrew its proposal to acquire Rockwell Automation for $225 a share, citing the opposition by Rockwell Automation’s board.
Baidu and Xiaomi will work together on developing artificial intelligence and IoT technology. The Chinese tech giants have previously collaborated.
IoTium, a supplier of IIoT secure network architecture, will have The Panel Shoppe distribute its offerings for the building automation market. IoTium provides the IoTium network-as-a-service.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Think your home IT is secure? Think again
https://www.electropages.com/2017/11/think-your-home-it-is-secure/?utm_campaign=&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=article&utm_content=Think+your+home+IT+is+secure%3F+Think+again
News this week that car thieves can now stand outside your house and pick up signals from your car keys stored inside your house (all too often near the front door) and then use the signal to get in and drive your car away means many of us have yet another system security issue in our personal lives that needs taking care of.
In this case it’s pretty easy. Keep your keys as far away as possible from your parked car and/or keep your keys in a Faraday cage, which you can easily buy online.
So that’s a simple problem to solve but with the proliferation of the IoT and with the majority of homes having a number of essential devices that are Internet connected, personal information and data security is a rapidly escalating problem.
To put that in some perspective, a recent report concluded there are something in the region of 2.5 million online devices in London that are vulnerable to hacking. These include a lot of company-based systems but also personal stuff like routers, baby monitors and kids toys and lifestyle stuff like watches that can tell you just how unfit you are.
The report was produced by security specialists Trend Micro and the information it contains was created by using the IoT search engine Shodan. London came out tops of all the major UK cities when it came to on-line security vulnerability but that doesn’t mean it is particularly lackadaisical when it comes to system security.
It makes clear that all IT information coming from connected devices in homes must pass through some form of router all the way through to BX class routers between mainstream telecommunications companies.