ARM has announced an mbed device platform to promote development on Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Called the ARM mbed™ IoT Device Platform, it includes the mbed OS, a free operating system for ARM Cortex®-M processor-based devices, and mbed Device Server, designed to “provides the required server-side technologies to connect and manage devices in a secure way.”
ARM Cortex-M processors are 32-bit RISC processors designed for use in IoT-like devices, and are explicitly designed to be energy-efficient.
Though the mbed OS will be free, the server component of the mbed platform is a “licensable product.” ARM describes mbed OS as “well-suited to run in the energy constrained environments,” and that it “includes the connectivity, security and device management functionalities required in every IoT device.”
The mbed Device Server, much like a standard Web server, brings Web services to IoT devices and is built using several Open Source protocols. To help spur development on the ARM mbed™ IoT Device Platform, ARM is developing what it called mbed Tools, which includes “command-line build, component management and test tools that provide a platform toolkit that can handle the complexity and collaboration requirements of Internet of Things (IoT).” That also includes a Cloud-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE). If ARM really wants to see the mbed™ IoT Device Platform become very popular, me thinks the mbed Device Server, just like the mbed OS, should be free.
The first alpha version of mbed OS is scheduled for release in December (2014), with a stable version due in October 2015. This screenshot shows the complete release schedule.
An mbed-enabled single board computer from Atmel. Complete information about the mbed™ IoT Device Platform is available at mbed.org. You may read the release announcement here.
An mbed-enabled single board computer (SBC) from Atmel
