Amazing IoT Development Platforms

12 Jun 2019

Just my favorite highlights that are unique, updates soon

• balena.io, formerly resin.io
  • Linux container based OS for numerous hardware platforms called balenaOS
    • Runs their own version of docker optimized for embedded hardware called the balenaEngine
    • Ability to push docker applications to groups of devices using balenaCloud
    • Remote programming capability through balenaCloud, with the capability to ssh into containers and host OS
  • Balena created their own hardware development platform, the balena fin
    • Based on the pi 3 compute module
    • Very reasonable pricing for the hardware, note it does not include the pi module
    • Nice amount of I/O expandability - Cellular modems through PCIe - Classic pi pinout for all “hats” you can imagine - My personal favorite an actual voltage input that is appropriate for industrial applications, 6-24V input voltage - Lastly and most importantly, it has 8, 16, 32, and 64 GB on board eMMC as opposed to an SD card
• particle.io, formerly spark.io
  • Particle cloud
    • Management of devices
    • Web IDE that is able to push firmware and application updates to devices over the network
    • Data usage information
    • Webhooks to connect cloud values to other platforms
    • Cost is reasonable, I’m most familiar with cellular and seems slightly high but that includes all other cloud functionality as a one and done cost
  • Micro controller (MCU) mesh networking based OS
    • Already said above but the ability to flash these MCUs remotely is beyond satisfying
    • The OS is frequently updated
    • OS is mostly agnostic to the hardware so the core of your code will work with whatever particle hardware you choose
    • Very similar to an arduino plus the cloud and the hardware options
  • Multiple hardware options
    • Current lineup has a compatible pinout with the adafruit feather
    • Cellular connectivity with mesh
    • Cellular accepts 3rd party sim cards
    • Wifi connectivity with mesh
    • Mesh endpoints and repeaters
    • Ethernet connectivity through the use of “wings”
    • Works with most adafruit feather “wings” and code libraries

Note that there is lots of information I haven’t talked about, these are just the highlights and you can always read the full specs on their websites