Operate your objects with firmware
Firmware provides the link between your physical product, data in the Cloud and your business functions.
Bring your object to life
Evolve your smart product with firmware
Firmware is the embedded software that controls the electronics in embedded systems.
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DRIVE
Firmware is what drives the hardware and brings it to life.
CODE FOR CONTROL
Firmware is the computer code that controls processors and physical peripherals.
INTEGRATE
Even the simplest electronic devices have firmware.
LINK
In the specific field of the IoT, firmware is the link between the physical object, the cloud and/or a mobile app.
The almost infinite applications of firmware
Firmware is everywhere, in every field, with or without batteries, with or without a screen, with or without buttons…
Firmware is found in all electronic devices, from the smallest to the largest, from domestic appliances to transport via industry.
One of the keys of the IoT is that it allows firmware to be updated remotely so that solutions can be scaled up.
References
Enki
The smart home box.
Control smart objects from a single mobile app
Centralise 5 communication protocols in one box
Program equipment based on your everyday routines
Control access
Get home status information at a glance (temperature, security, electricity etc.)
Factors in the success of the firmware in your IoT project
Quality
Testing and mass production
User experience
OTA updates
Security
A word from Badr
CTO Hardware / Firmware
“Firmware is the cornerstone of an IoT product. It’s at the centre of product use and user experience. It is also a significant cost item and can present risks if development is not closely controlled. At Rtone, we put our heart and soul, our utmost concentration and expertise into the firmware we develop.”
Badr CTO Hardware / Firmware
A word from Badr
CTO Hardware / Firmware
“Firmware is the cornerstone of an IoT product. It’s at the centre of product use and user experience. It is also a significant cost item and can present risks if development is not closely controlled. At Rtone, we put our heart and soul, our utmost concentration and expertise into the firmware we develop.”
Badr CTO Hardware / Firmware
Essential firmware technologies and skills
We can divide firmware skills into two categories depending on the product and its embedded equipment.
At Rtone, we are experienced in developing firmware for both categories.
Microcontroller firmware (e.g. ARM Cortex-M*)
Microprocessor firmware
Building custom Yocto or Buildroot Linux distros and images
Porting Android to IoT products
Adapting the lower OS layers (reducing energy consumption)
BSP porting and developing peripheral drivers
Configuring the OS (adapting it to the connectivity technology used)
Developing business applications and integrating them with the OS
Integrating Edge computing frameworks: Docker, Podman, Azure IoT Edge etc.
Developing and integrating OTA update mechanisms at different levels (business applications, OS, bootloader etc.) – SWUpdate, Mender, RAUC etc.
Cloud connectivity
Implementing a security strategy
Designing user interfaces: Qt, web applications
Microcontroller firmware
Bare metal or RTOS development: FreeRTOS, Zephyr, Azure RTOS etc.
Integrating applications and business functionality in the firmware
Developing and integrating radio communication protocols: proprietary protocols, LoRa/LoRaWAN, 2G/3G/4G, LTE-M, NB-IoT, Sigfox, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Wirepas, Bluetooth Mesh etc.
Secure cloud connectivity: HTTP, MQTT, LWM2M, TCP/IP etc.
Designing storage and data transfer architectures
Connectivity with device management tools: Rtower, Azure IoT, AWS IoT etc.
Developing secure bootloaders for OTA updates
Developing peripheral drivers for specific hardware targets (sensors, actuators, connectivity modules, memory etc.)
Designing and integrating Edge signal processing or decision-making algorithms
Designing ultra-lower-power firmware
Designing abstractions or APIs (for firmware integrated into a more complete product)
Designing rich user interfaces: Embedded Wizard, TouchGFX, uGFX etc.
I have an IoT project
Secure your object
“Security requires a holistic approach. Firmware is an important part of the attack surface. These aspects must be taken into account in the design of the product, including audits and pen tests.”