ARM launches solutions to speed the deployment of IoT devices

The extension, called the mbed IoT Device Platform, comprises two elements: mbed OS, a free operating system for Cortex-M based microcontrollers; and the mbed device server, a licensable software product that provides server side connectivity and management features. "Today's IoT devices largely exist in isolation and it has been impossible to realize a truly interconnected world where devices are interoperable with many different cloud services," said Krisztian Flautner, general manager of ARM's IoT business. "The ARM mbed IoT Device Platform will solve this by providing a common communication and management toolkit that can be used for a variety of purposes. We expect mbed to speed the large scale deployment of a new breed of IoT devices and cloud services significantly." The mbed OS is event driven and configurable and should fit in less than 128kbyte of memory, said Flautner. "If you don't want a feature, you can take it out," he noted. Alongside support from the ARM ecosystem, the OS integrates a range of what the company calls 'key standards', including Bluetooth, 6LoWPAN and Thread, alongside security features such as DTLS. The mbed device server, meanwhile, is said to improve efficiency, security and manageability for devices taking a standards based and IoT optimised approach. ARM expects the mbed IoT Device Platform to find application in a range of sectors, including smart cities, wearables and smart homes. Flautner said ARM has been working in this area for some time. "We have been thinking about the IoT, researching the technology and making acquisitions such as Sensinode. Everyone has been talking about the IoT, but it has proved difficult to do well. We want to accelerate deployment of the IoT by providing a productive environment."