ARM open source group address IoT software confusion

An open source software reference design for the design of secure IoT node device such as sensors and ARM controllers has been introduced by Linaro, developer of open source software for the ARM architecture.

Linaro has worked with ARM, Canonical, Huawei, NXP, RDA, Red Hat, Spreadtrum, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and ZTE on the new IoT software, as part of what it calls the Linaro IoT and Embedded (LITE) Segment Group.

Group says it wants to address the design problems created by the proliferation of choices for IoT device operating systems, security infrastructure, identification, communication, device management and cloud interfaces.

It hopes to be able to reduce fragmentation in operating systems, middleware and cloud connectivity software, through the creation of open source device reference platforms.

Initial technical work will be focused on delivering an end to end, crossvendor solution for secure IoT devices using the ARM Cortex-M architecture.

This will include a bootloader, RTOS platform, security, communications, middleware and a choice of application programming tools. LITE will also work on Cortex-A based smart device and gateway solutions for IoT using Linux.

George Grey, Linaro CEO, writes:

“We see an opportunity to apply the same skills to the rapidly emerging IoT software market, and we intend to work with our members to deliver reference open source software platforms that implement non-differentiating but critical features such as end to end security from the device to the cloud, over the air software updates, emerging IoT standards and protocols, and interfaces to global cloud service providers.”

Charlene Marini

The group of suppliers plans to use both Zephyr and Linux as neutral industry platforms for delivery of its collaborative engineering output.

It will also link with ARM to extend and expand the ARM mbed IoT Device Platform and ecosystem.

The first IoT Reference Platforms will be released in December 2016.

Charlene Marini, vice president of segment marketing, ARM, writes:

“Linaro has a proven track record in fostering collaboration on developing, optimizing and maintaining software solutions across a diverse range of applications. Linaro will apply those same successful principles to LITE to help rapidly mature the IoT software ecosystem in support of the ARM architecture.”

Canonical, developer of Ubuntu, will support the Linaro reference platforms with its Snapbased Ubuntu Core.