Everybody is talking about the cloud. In the MCU world, there are plans to integrate cloud connectivity into some microcontrollers for out-of-the-box operation.
The announcement from Digi International reveals a collaboration underway with Freescale to integrate the iDigi Device Cloud into Freescale's Kinetis and ColdFire microcontroller platforms. The results are expected to become available to the market in July of this year.
This capability that Digi is bringing to the Freescale devices is an interesting technology. For one thing, it is a service and not a software package you can download. Digi provides the server infrastructure, security policy, and virtual private network (VPN) capability. What the MCU does is to access this service over an IP connection through WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular connection to the Internet. Once logged into your VPN, the MCU can transfer information to or from your cloud-based application software.
This kind of connection allows you to upload data from devices scattered across the world, download instructions (including software updates) to said devices, and generally treat this worldwide collection of smart sensors and devices as being wired together in your lab (with perhaps some added delay). Digi offers a tutorial on its site that discusses deployment of these networks, but you need to register to access it.
Cloud computing extends the geographic area that your devices can cover to anywhere on the Internet. Using a third party rather linking devices back to your own server has the typical make-versus-buy advantages, including an added layer of security between your network and the hackers of the world. This is powerful stuff, allowing you to create really substantial installations of whatever it is your MCU does.
As discussed in my blog MCUs Driving Smart Society, the MCU now lies at the heart of a trend toward having millions of smart systems communicating with each other, and us, about things happening on the far side of anywhere. Are any of you working on such a project? Let me know on the message board below.
It has been said that, despite the existence of several wired/wireless protocols, there is no such "killer application" when interconnecting embedded systems, yet. Certainly, the reason is not the absence of technology. We need a new "flash of genius"? Digiis paving the way.Now, innovative applications mustbe created. I think te most close example to cloud computing is metering / monitoring the electricity distribuition - the smart grid.
Maybe the main obstacle to cloud computing adoption in the MCU field will be the security violation, data encription,....
Nemos 3/11/2012 7:24:35 PM User Rank System supervisor
MCU and Cloud
Great news indeed , that will lead the MCUs to a new era. Products with full options of connectivity but at this point I want to mention the security issues that may occur.....
Rich Quinnell 3/12/2012 12:35:19 PM User Rank Blogger
MCU and Cloud Security
Yes, security can be an issue with cloud computing. The advantage of the Digi offering is that the MCU device and system developers do not have to worry too much about security as that is built into the Digi offering.
Most security approaches involve some form of dual-key encryption. In the case of communications from the cloud to the device, a public key encryption scheme would work. The device knows how to decode encrypted info from the server, but without the private key no hacker can encode info so cannot spoof the MCU into thinking a message is coming from the server.
As to spoofing the server into thinking that the information from a hacker is coming from the MCU, that's a bit trickier. Without the ability to control physical access to the MCU it is hard to prevent a hacker from gaining access somehow. One approach to preventing a hacked MCU from affecting the network might be to have a hard-wired key in each MCU, and have that MCU need manual registration with the server before communications will be accepted. Another approach might be to simply discard information that does not make sense, or at least raise an alert about the sensor.
But yes, security is a challenge that will only grow as networked MCUs become widespread.
Microp 3/12/2012 4:52:15 AM User Rank Program Manager
MCU as a service in cloud
Rich, it's interesting to know about the cloud offerings for MCU. Now a day's cloud is a common technology, which is popping up in all technical discussions and community talks. Rather than data transfer any other offerings are available for MCUs from cloud. I mean any plans like MCU as a Service in cloud similar to the infrastructure/Platform Services in cloud ( IaaS/PaaS).
Rich Quinnell 3/12/2012 2:22:22 PM User Rank Blogger
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Microp, MCUs as a service is not something that I am aware of as yet, but there is nothing I know of that would prevent such as service from being offered. I guess it just depends on what service you want the MCU platform to provide. What kinds of applications could use a worldwide network of MCUs as building blocks for a service? Fleet tracking is one, I suppose, with trucks logging in their location each time they pass through a WiFi network. Or perhaps shipping and delivery. You know when the truck has arrived and can count stuff as delivered even before things get unloaded. How about nationwide surveillance with automatic face recognition for finding fugitives? Chilling thought, though. Cameras everywhere reporting to a central database? Sounds Orwellian.
I could see weather reporting and tracking of environmental conditions across large areas as one nice use for the MCU Cloud. Given the push to conserve energy and the love affair we have with cars, could we use a MCI cloud traffic application? Something like: live monitoring of all the major roads/bridges for traffic flow and accidents with updates to the mobile devices to warn of traffic/weather conditions and suggest alternate routes. I am sure that some city's would love to have a way to auto-charge tolls for road/bridge/parking, that would ease the collection and enforcement while enabling police to find violators. Again a little Orwellian but if done properly with some safeguards it could be a time / life saver.
Rich Quinnell 3/13/2012 12:44:02 PM User Rank Blogger
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
RD, these sound like very good applications for cloud MCUs. The weather one could have weather stations powered by solar and wind generated electricity (with such low power needs that would be enough) and the traffic one could use vibration of passing vehicles to generate power. Thanks for the ideas.
You are most welcome! I used to commute over an hour (NH to MA) and found it most frustrating to be stuck in traffic due to accidents or worse yet road construction. As a result, I would listen to the commuter talk radio stations trying to get advanced warning of problems ahead of me, it was often possible to avoid the problem if I knew in advance. I like the idea of using the vibration from the road traffic to power the remote sensors! Wind/Solar are also good choices here in New England.
Another use for the cloud based MCU sensing would be bridge structural monitoring. Although bridges rarely fail, if/when they do it can be catastrophic. Dams and earthen berms would also be good candidates both for health and early failure warnings.
The Cortex-M0+ processor enables the creation of smart, low-power, microcontrollers to provide efficient communication, management and maintenance across a multitude of wirelessly connected devices, a concept known as the INTERNET OF THINGS. Source
Rich Quinnell 3/15/2012 6:31:52 PM User Rank Blogger
Re: ARM processor geared for Internet of Things
Ryszard, Dirceu, Aseemov, you guys have stolen my thunder. I was going to blog about the M0+ and mention all these offerings. I'm not upset, though. It's good to get as much information like this out there as quickly as possible. Guess I'll have to rethink my blog....
Microp 3/13/2012 3:18:35 AM User Rank Program Manager
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Rich, when Google start offering Google Doc's, nobody expected that these can be reshape as cloud with big offerings. Now cloud is like a big umbrella, with different offerings for infrastructure, platform, software etc. Like that in future, we can expect cloud based MCU offerings. I expect the developments like somebody from a corner sending instruction set by online to remote MCU, where the code is executing and run like a web service (just an Imagination).
northstar 3/13/2012 6:11:58 AM User Rank Program Manager
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
I believe that the time when we will program online is not so far. If you look at the amount of investments made by companies as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple (just to name few) in data centers and cloud computing, I think it is clear what it will be the future. Let's take Azzure project from Microsoft. You can develop "in-the-cloud" using VisualStudio online. So, everyting is setup and developer only need to program. Compilation, debug, everything is made on farm of computers and what we only need is ... a terminal (possible, a tablet :-) ).
Microp 3/13/2012 7:18:35 AM User Rank Program Manager
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Northstar, exactly I meant the same. We are writing the code and send it by online to the MCU residing in a remote location, where the code is get compiled and creating the exe file. If needed, we can deploy the service there in PaaS/IaaS mode and accessing the service through cloud connectivity. So the cloud connectivity can be done through any of the portable devices like Tablet/laptop, Smartphone etc. Finally like IT guys, we can also have the freedom of portability (work from home).
antedeluvian 3/13/2012 9:01:33 AM User Rank Blogger
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Actually there is already a parallel in embedded microcomputing (with the exception of cloud debugging). Projects for the NXP mbed board (http://ics.nxp.com/support/development.hardware/mbed/) are developed through your web browser.
Rich Quinnell 3/16/2012 2:02:05 PM User Rank Blogger
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Here's an application that I think uses the cloud as a place to hold information on parking place status. I cannot imagine that the city wants its own server dedicated to this application, but one hosted in the cloud would work fine.
It's a system being tested in Indianapolis that senses empty parking spaces and reports it to the Internet so that web browsers on mobile devices can find where the spaces are located. It is from Streetline and is being tested in a number of crowded cities where parking can be a nightmare.
Microp 3/19/2012 12:03:36 AM User Rank Program Manager
Re: MCU as a service in cloud
Rich, we had done a similar parking system SPARK with MCU at backend and web interface for user access through the front end. As of now its a wifi based solution ( not a cloud based offering) and in future we have plan for cloud based solution depends on technology availability. This project is like a complete automated parking system in real time basis and online slot reservation is possible either through mobile or web. More details are available through the link. So far we had published 4-5 papers and bags 2 best project awards also.
Rich Quinnell 3/19/2012 2:49:38 PM User Rank Blogger
Parking space monitoring
Microp, I have seen those systems that identify how many parking spaces are available in a garage, but never really thought about how that is handled. There is a log more activity in this application space than I would have imagined.
I wonder how many othe MCU apps are big business out there that almost no one has heard of?
duanebenson 3/15/2012 1:58:25 AM User Rank Blogger
Just don't go out of business
For an MCU embedded in your microwave, this could be cool. But for things that are mission critical or might have a deployed life of a decade or more, this could be a serious infrastructure risk. If Digi (or other cloud provider) goes out of business or gets new management that finds the service to not meet profit objectives, a lot of devices could end up useless.
That's the problem with hosted services. You are at the mercy of a business that may not be sound or may not have any viable disaster or succession plan.
Rich Quinnell 3/15/2012 6:28:28 PM User Rank Blogger
Re: Just don't go out of business
Duane, too true. Hosted services put you at the mercy of another company's business competence. But then, that is true for many other types of business releationships. This is where the lawyers and business managers get involved, negotiating things like indemnity and long-term contracts. I'm just an engineer pointing out an opportunity. Its up to the higher pay grades to determine th business risk and take steps to mitigate it.
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