IoT Development Boards.pdf
- 2. IoT Development Boards – The Key to Smarter Devices In this article, we shall try and understand the concept of IoT development boards. We will cover several interesting topics like what is an IoT development board, what features to look for when selecting a board, and the different types of it. While looking at the 3 types of boards, we will also look at a few examples for each type. Finally, we shall conclude by looking at a few of the most used IoT boards.
- 3. What is an IoT Development Board? We all know IoT needs software, protocol, hardware, and cloud to function properly. IoT boards are part of IoT hardware, essentially a printed circuit board having circuitry and hardware that helps to perform experiments with a specific microcontroller. An IoT development board consists of a programming interface allowing you to program the microcontroller using a desktop, power circuit, basic output buttons, basic input, and input/output pins used to connect sensors, motors, LCD screens, and more. Developers mainly use IoT boards for prototyping before releasing the main product. A microcontroller is capable of lots of interesting things, but for it to do all that, you need to set up a group of circuitry and hardware on the breadboard.
- 4. What Do You Need To Look For While Choosing An IoT Board? 1. Wireless Capabilities: This feature in an IoT board provides wireless communication apart from the external transceiver module. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, and Zigbee are some popular examples of wireless protocols. 2. Memory: Memory is a crucial feature because the board must store volumes of data. Therefore, you must also ensure that the board you choose has built-in flash memory and allows you to connect to a MicroSD or a MiniSD to enhance data storage as and when necessary. 3. Processing Power: When you are looking for a processor, it could be in any form. You can find it in the form of a microcontroller, a CPU, a CPLD, or an FPGA. A microcontroller is generally preferred for programming IoT-enabled devices as most manufacturers provide the IDE you will require.
- 5. 4. Peripheral Support: This is another factor to consider, as the IoT board must support peripherals, including access to common ports like HDMI and USB or pin-outs for PWM devices such as servo motors and dimmable lights. 5. Scalability: Since you are investing money in an epic IoT development board, check whether you can add more functionalities to it. Otherwise, the board will become outdated faster than ever as IoT technology advances exponentially. 6. Connectivity: We all know that IoT apps cannot function unless they are compatible with other devices or adequately connected to the internet. Therefore, while choosing an IoT development board, you must always focus on the connectivity options. So check if it supports various wireless connections like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and, most importantly, ethernet.
- 6. What are the Different Types of IoT Development Boards? Microcontroller-Based boards, System-On-Chip boardsand Single-Board Computers. IoT boards are classified into 3 types
- 7. Summary As you have seen, IoT development boards are printed circuit boards with circuitry and hardware designed to assist experiments with a specific microcontroller. You have learned what an IoT board is, the different things you need to keep in mind while buying one, the different types of IoT boards.