Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442808
27 4.0 • Open-source software: There are many open-source software packages for processing sensor data (e.g., video processing). If you want to use these packages, you may need an IoT gateway to support the programming languages and operating system libraries that these packages require. • Design, development, and manufacturing costs: There are multiple cost factors to consider, comprising electronic design costs, BOM costs, software and firmware development costs, testing and evaluation costs, regulatory compliance costs, and manufacturing costs. Using an IoT gateway can reduce or eliminate several of these cost categories, although it will still be a component of the overall solution cost. • Operational costs and complexity: IoT gateways can be leveraged to provide additional operational capabilities such as remote monitoring and diagnostics, network traffic routing, remote software updates, and other utility functions. Without these all-in-one IoT gateway capabilities, you'll need to provide these functions in the sensors and actuators themselves or do without them. • Future growth: IoT gateways may provide the capacity for future expansion to include new types of sensor or network interfaces as well as new software packages. This expansion capacity can provide an additional growth path for your IoT solution over time. Conclusion In recent years, microcontrollers and networking chipsets have advanced to the point where they can directly and securely connect to the Internet, making them a potential solution in IoT and IIoT environments. In deciding whether to use an IoT gateway, consider a range of factors in the context of your application and operating system environment. Variables such as the number of sensors and actuators; data, interface, and security complexity; support and costs; and future growth needs are important considerations. n