IoT Platforms

IoT Platforms

Student’s Name

Instructor’s Name

Course Title

Date

IoT Platforms

Introduction

IoT platforms are support software that allows the connection of every component of an Internet of Things system. As such, these platforms facilitate the dataflow, communication, functionality and device management of the applications. More specifically, the IoT platforms help in the connection of hardware aspects of the technology. Additionally, they handle the respective communication protocols that are necessary for the technology to run effectively. They also provide authentication and security for users and devices. Moreover, they analyze m visualize and collect data. Furthermore, they are vital in the integration with other web services.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) IoT

This is a type of a managed cloud platform which allows various connected devices to securely and easily interact with other devices and various cloud applications (Mathew, S., & Varia, J. (2014).. The AWS IoT Core offers support for trillion of messages and billions of devices. Additionally, it can process and route the various messages to Amazon Web Service endpoints as well as to various devices securely and reliably. With AWS IoT Core, different applications are able to keep track of as well as communicate with users’ devices. This aspect is possible at all times, even during those times that the devices aren’t connected. Moreover, this platform makes it easy for users to access Amazon Machine Learning and other services. Furthermore, with AWS IoT, it is possible to build various IoT applications which process, gather, act on, and analyze data that is generated by different connected devices without managing any infrastructure.

Google Cloud IOT Core

Google Cloud IoT core is defined as a fully managed service which allows users to securely and easily connect, ingest and manage data from many devices that are globally dispersed. Google Cloud IoT Core, when combined with other devices on the Google Cloud IoT Platform, avail users with a complete solution that allows for visualizing, collecting, analyzing and processing of IoT data (Dayu et al., 2010). In turn, this supports improvised operational efficiency as all these operations are done in real time. Moreover, it aggregates dispersed device data together into one global system. This platform can be used by business to optimize their activities, anticipate problems and device rich models that define the business better.

Microsoft Azure IoT

This is a platform that allows users to efficiently connect to the Internet of Things. It uses device to cloud telemetry data to enable users to understand the state of their devices as well as assets. Consequently, the users can then be ready to take the required action when any IoT device requires the users’ attention. More specifically, in cloud-to-device messages, the platform reliably sends notifications and commands to the users’ recommended connected devices. Moreover, the platform tracks message delivery accompanied by the corresponding acknowledgement receipts (George, 2015). Additionally, device messages are reliably sent in a very durable way which accommodates intermittently connected devices. The platform also sets up individual credentials and identities for all connected devices and also helps in retention of confidentiality of device-to-cloud as well as cloud-to-device messages. It requires the users to revoke access right to specific devices in order to maintain the users’ integrity of the system.

IBM Watson IoT

IBM Watson IoT is a platform that is a cloud hosted, managed serviced that is designed in a way that it makes it easier for users to derive value from their Internet of Things devices. It enables the users to have a quick start to their Internet of Things related projects (Kaul, 2016). As such, it provides capabilities which include control, registration, rapid visualization, connectivity as well as storage of data that arises from the use of Internet of Things. As such, users are required to register and then connect the mobile devices as well as sensors to the platform. With IBM Watson Cloud, the user can visually assemble all events from Internet of Things into logic flows.

Consequently, the user can manage and collect time-series data and then view what is happening in their devices with real-time IoT data visualization. Moreover, the user pays for their usage with various purchase options that are available through IBM Watson Cloud (Kaul, 2016). This scalable service enables the user to pay as a term subscription. Moreover, business owners can use IBM Watson platform to adapt and scale to changing needs with the guarantee of privacy as well as security.

SAP Leonardo

This is a digital innovation platform that allows users to create innovative applications based on the Internet of Things. Moreover, it makes the user use SAP Leonardo applications to make intelligent business decisions. Moreover, it enables users to make their business’ processes more effective and efficient as well as create new business models. The platform is made up of various components which include SAP Leonardo Bridge, repackaged solutions, SAP Leonardo Edge Computing, and the SAP Leonardo Foundation (Merezeanu et al., 2016).

Dell IoT

Dell Technologies recently unveiled their own Internet of Things strategy and vision, IoT division, IoT specific labs, consumption models and partner program. As more customers seek to transform their businesses digitally, Dell Technology adopted the platform to meet this need (Wexler, 2015). The company’s IoT Solutions Division combines internally developed technologies and offering that are found in Dell Technologies’’ ecosystem so as to deliver complete solutions for their users.

The company therefore leverages the IoT strength across all of its family of extensive businesses. This ensures that Dell delivers the right solutions for the users. Moreover, with the platform, the company seeks to meet customers’ needs as well as assisting them in the deployment of the integrated Internet of Things systems with much ease. As such, it plans on expounding on various initiates such as Project Fire, Project Nautilus, Project IRIS and Project Worldwide Herd which all incorporate IoT technology (Wexler, 2015).

Hitachi Lumada

There are five components of the Hitachi Lumada IoT platform. The first component is the Lumada Edge that integrates all the information that is generated by sensors that create mountains of data originating from applications and machines. As such, Lumada securely speeds the integration of this data. The Lumada Core streamlines the process of integrating data and managing assets into the business systems since this is the key to the success of all IoT initiatives (Gupta et al., 2016). More specifically, it collects data, connects assets and uses open API to avail information for analysis. Moreover, it provides centralized access management and centralized identity using secure credentials across the business assets.

The third pillar is the Lumada Analytics that uses data mining and machine learning tools to uncover various patterns in device data and equipment. In turn, it tunes assets to enable the user have a better operational efficiency. The fourth component is the Lumada Studio that effectively monitors various connected devices across a business organization. This component provides a graphical environment that creates user defined reports and interactive web-based dashboards that manage notifications and alerts. The final pillar is the Lumada Foundry (Gupta et al., 2016). This component provides an underlying framework which is vital for the IoT platform. It enables deployment, scale servicing and upgrading of security and support.

Salesforce IoT

Salesforce IoT cloud is an IoT platform which is designed to process and store IoT data. The platform is powered by “Thunder” which Salesforce defines as a great scalable event that is real-time and processing engine. The platform is therefore build to store the massive volumes of information that is generated by websites, devices, partners, customers as well as sensors. In turn, it initiates actions that provide real-time responses (Verma & Mahobia, 2016).

Oracle IoT Cloud Platform

Oracle IoT is a managed Platform as a Service (PaaS) which is cloud-based and offers help that enables users to make critical strategies and business decisions. As such, it allows the user to connect their devices to the cloud, consequently analyze the data obtained from devices in real time. In turn, this data can be integrated with web services, enterprise applications as well as other Oracle Cloud Services that include Oracle Business Intelligence Cloud Service.

General Electric Predix

This is a platform that analyses and collects data from industrial machines. The General Electric Predix supports the growing Internet of Things with an app store and cloud servers. The platform is part of the Industrial Internet Consortium that works to allow the use and development of industrial internet technologies. Moreover, it is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that is cloud-based (Agarwal & Brem, 2015). It enables industrial-scale related analytics that fosters performance management as well as operation optimization. This is done by providing a standard avenue that connects people, machine and data.

Owing to the fact that the platform is based on Cloud Foundry Open Source technology, it provides a delivery system that is based on micro-services and a distributed architecture. The platform therefore aims at developing a system wide optimization as well as the creation of a detailed model which spans through entire systems including aircraft operations (Ray, 2016). This IoT enabled model improves optimization of all parts of the systems, including the turbine blade. Moreover, it aims at optimizing the entire system such as the airline operations. This can be adequately enabled with the incorporation if Internet of Things.

Conclusion

IoT platforms are the component that makes Internet of Things happen for the many devices. As such, they are the applications that connect the Internet of Things with the output devices as well as the Cloud. These IoT platforms are essential in helping users and businesses to overcome various technical challenges. They enable the operation of those applications that monitor, control and manage devices. As such, they deploy secure and independent connectivity between remote data, devices as well as enabling sensor management. The IoT platforms are therefore the mediators between the hardware and the application layer. The best platforms have the ability to integrate devices with the various applications that are utilized by these devices.

References

Mathew, S., & Varia, J. (2014). Overview of amazon web services. Amazon Whitepapers.

George, S. (2015). Microsoft azure IoT suite—connecting your things to the cloud. azure. microsoft.

Kaul, A. (2016). IBM Watson IoT and Its Integration with Blockchain.

Wexler, S. (2015). Dell Does IoT… Totally.

Gupta, C., Farahat, A., Hiruta, T., Ristovski, K., & Dayal, U. (2016). Collaborative Creation with Customers for Predictive Maintenance Solutions on Hitachi IoT Platform. Hitachi Review, 65(9), 403.

Verma, P., & Mahobia, C.(2016). THE APPLICATION OF CLOUD IN INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT): A BRIEF STUDY.

Ray, P. P. (2016). A survey of IoT cloud platforms. Future Computing and Informatics Journal, 1(1-2), 35-46.

Merezeanu, D., Vasilescu, G., & Dobrescu, R. (2016). Context-aware control platform for sensor network integration in IoT and Cloud. Studies in Informatics and Control, 25(4), 489-498.

Agarwal, N., & Brem, A. (2015). Strategic business transformation through technology convergence: implications from General Electric’s industrial internet initiative. International Journal of Technology Management, 67(2-4), 196-214.

Dayu, S., Huaiyu, X., Ruidan, S., & Zhiqiang, Y. (2010, November). A GEO-related IOT applications platform based on Google Map. In e-Business Engineering (ICEBE), 2010 IEEE 7th International Conference on (pp. 380-384). IEEE.