What are the Hardware Requirements for IoT Gateway Development?

In recent times, the IoT gateway has emerged as a critical component in an IoT infrastructure. The reasons for this are plenty. 

With the explosive growth of data generated by IoT devices, it has become necessary to improve data processing capabilities at the edge. This has led to the advancement in computing power of edge devices like IoT gateways.

Effectively, IoT gateways are now not only responsible for collection and communication of data and ensuring compatibility between the sensor network and the cloud. They also perform tasks such as IoT device monitoring, data processing in real-time, and fortifying IoT network security. 

If you are looking to develop such an advanced IoT gateway with real-time computing capabilities, it is advisable to custom-develop such a solution rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf product. 

In this article, we will explore the hardware design aspects that need to be considered in the custom-development of an IoT gateway. 

Hardware Design Considerations for IoT Gateway 

The hardware design of an IoT gateway is governed by its functional requirements. 

• Microcontroller or Microprocessor - In some business use cases, an IoT gateway with data analysis and processing capabilities is not required. In that scenario, a simple solution will suffice. Such gateway solutions are developed on microcontroller platforms. In case advanced computing functionalities and storage features are required for the IoT gateway, then it is developed on a microprocessor platform. 
• Type of Operating System – In case you are developing an IoT gateway with edge computing capabilities, your design should account for adequate memory and a multi-core processor. It is also advisable to opt for an operating system with higher context switching rate and real-time response rate. 

• Power Consumption – The power consumed by the IoT gateway depends on the complexity of the IoT hardware and the power requirements of the other peripheral components. 

• Memory Footprint – If edge analytics and data storage are desired functionalities in the IoT gateway, its memory footprint can increase. IoT gateways deployed in time-critical IoT systems have real-time controllers and schedulers. The data is also stored in RAM. 

• Communication Modules – You can decide to choose a wired or wireless communication interface for the gateway. This is totally dependent on the physical proximity of the IoT gateway with the peripheral devices with which it communicates. 

 

Types of Wireless Communication Modules in IoT Gateway

Wireless communication modules are applicable for short range communication. They also require minimal hardware installations. 

Communication interface	Type of wireless communication
Sensor/device to gateway	Cellular, ZigBee, Bluetooth, NBIoT
Device to cloud	WiFi, Cellular, 6LowPan, LoRa

 

Types of Wired Communication Standards in IoT Gateway

Communication mode	Features
Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u)	Offers an average speed of 100 Mbps  Applicable for long-range communication
Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3z)	Offers an average speed of 1000 Mbps  Applicable for long-range communication; For eg., industrial automation applications

 

Summary

For successful IoT gateway development, you should have a clear understanding of the business requirements. And it is crucial to incorporate these requirements into the solution right from the design phase. 

The best practices highlighted above help in preparing the IoT gateway development team for a successful implementation.