Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2023. Read them in this 15th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
What is Ahead for Edge, the IoT and Embedded Systems
By Nicolas Rabault, Co-founder and
CEO, Luos
Luos makes open source software for edge,
IoT, cyber-physical systems (CPS) and embedded
distributed systems providing a simple and lightweight containerization
platform that enables a microservices architecture. Its modular design
simplifies linking any hardware component and application code together as a
single system image making management and updates easier.
Here is what I see for the year ahead.
#1 Finally, we'll see supply chain issues
abate and components become more available. That will be a big help to making
usage grow as RP2040 RaspberryPi, other microcontrollers come back to market
and new products flourish built on those devices.
#2 Embedded has been slow in adoption of
new ways of doing things because something that works stays in place. But that
mentality is changing from the grind of just making things work. I see this
change coming over from web development and applying those methodologies and
technologies in the world of edge, the IoT and embedded devices to gain greater
agility.
For example, it has always been difficult
to update firmware of edge, IoT and embedded devices, but now those devices are
connected via the internet, which changes everything. The mentality of those
building edge, IoT and embedded systems changes as those devices are connected
to the outside world and it's possible to get information back from those
devices, which makes it possible to have constant improvements to those devices
and systems. Plus, tools will change and improve, as well.
#3 We'll see the trend continue to make
it easier to develop software for edge, IoT and embedded devices with the
ability to deal with any network and multiple boards - trending away from the
specific ways that embedded works in a monolithic architecture. For example,
transitioning from IoT devices to more complex systems such as a robot cleaner,
for example, with multiple boards. Edge and embedded devices will behave more
like web servers with protocols that make this possible.
#4 With everything connected, it's
exciting times for product developers to build new capabilities for everything.
For example, using a phone to do things like start a car or control an
irrigation system. Plus, now it's easier than ever to make updates, improvements,
and add yet more features to make them even better over time. If you think
about it, hardware devices become more like SaaS with the ability to make
ongoing changes without disruption.
Manufacturers will need to think about
how they can leverage these new capabilities with new approaches to their
markets and evolving their products. Now, it's completely different than
before; you will see products evolve much more quickly.
#5 Security is becoming more complex for
everyone in IT and that is very much the case for edge, IoT and embedded
devices as they increasingly become connected. That means logins to devices
with proper credentials for access and controlling access to boards that
communicate with each other. The model for this is the web and this will be a
continued work-in-progress in the year ahead for those of us in edge and
embedded systems.
I think that, finally, the edge, IoT and
embedded world is breaking out of its old ways and monolithic approach towards
adopting modern software development methodologies and tools which means
exciting times ahead and much greater agility that will transform the way
products evolve. We are already seeing this trend which, I believe, will
accelerate in the years to come.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicolas Rabault is co-founder and CEO of
Luos which makes it easy to develop and scale edge, IoT and embedded
distributed software using open source. With his experience in robotics and as
a research engineer in real-time embedded systems, his work is dedicated to
making embedded systems work together while simplifying reusability for greater
agility.