What if you were suddenly designated as the engineer to prototype a new company (Industrial Internet of Things) IIoT system? Would you be ready or need to learn more? Evaluating hardware and software for implementing an IoT network isn’t that easy. But it can be manageable if you know the suppliers that offer what you need. If you’re responsible for designing products targeting such systems, consider the following process.
Step #1: Do a site survey.
Most IIoT systems are wireless sensor networks, which are diverse and unique. It’s always helpful to experience the environment where your products will be used, such as office buildings, factories, process control plants, and others. You can see first-hand how the sensors are used. Determine the availability of any wired networks that might be employed. Estimate the range and other wireless path factors related to the use of wireless at each node. Once you see a real-world application, you will have a better perspective of what’s needed to design.