Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442853
26 Make machines friendlier. Smart IoT solutions provide more operational insight to users, making them better informed about a process. A traditional HVAC system runs until it breaks down or requires service. A smart HVAC system self-monitors, provides users with concise information about its performance and operational health, and alerts them to problems before the system breaks down. "The smart IoT solution provides this information to users wherever they are," notes Gupta. "When you think in terms of a solution," he says, "from the design point of view, you have to start thinking beyond the product you're developing." This means considering how users will interact with and streamlining the way contractors install and maintain it, such as using plug-and-play sensors and remote maintenance capabilities; knowing how you will add new sensors later that may be based on new technologies and communications protocols; and having a plan to scale the solution. "The solution has to be flexible, and you must be able to upgrade it remotely," says Gupta. These considerations drive microprocessor selection, sensor selection, and software development considerations. When it comes to selecting microcontrollers, Gupta favors microcontroller units (MCUs) that offer multiple interface options. "In the IoT, the name of the game is not just pure performance but interfaces," he says. "The more interfaces you have, the more devices you can connect." Other critical factors include processing power, cost, and hardware life cycle. Gupta prefers a complete system on a chip (SoC) with a lot of computing power. He acknowledges that there can be big price differences between a SoC and other competing choices, but the choice in part depends on the service life of your solution. "An HVAC system might last twenty years," he says. "If an MCU or MPU board gets fried, you won't change the HVAC system. That would be a very costly affair. So, the longevity of the MCU you choose is very, very important." "In the IoT, the name of the game is not just pure performance but interfaces. The more interfaces you have, the more devices you can connect."