IoT operating systems are software platforms that are installed on internet-connected devices to allow for data processing, storage, and communication. Because they are made to be scalable, secure, and compatible with a wide range of hardware and protocols, IoT operating systems differ from standard operating systems in this regard. You will learn about 10 IoT operating systems in this article that you should be familiar with by 2023.
Amazon FreeRTOS
An open-source operating system for microcontrollers called Amazon FreeRTOS makes it simple to deploy, connect, secure, and manage tiny, low-power edge devices. Based on the well-known FreeRTOS kernel, Amazon FreeRTOS enhances it with libraries for cloud connectivity, over-the-air updates, device provisioning, and other functions. AWS IoT Core, a managed cloud solution that enables you to connect and manage your IoT devices at scale, is integrated with Amazon FreeRTOS.
Tizen
Tizen is an open-source, Linux-based operating system that supports a wide range of gadgets, including mobile phones, smart TVs, wearable technology, home appliances, and automotive systems. Tizen has a wealth of capabilities and services, including cloud integration, security modules, and frameworks for building both web and native applications. Tizen is supported by the Tizen Association, an alliance of major corporations like Samsung, Intel, Huawei, and LG.
Windows 10 IoT
A series of operating systems called Windows 10 IoT is designed for creating intelligent edge devices and solutions. There are two different versions of Windows 10 IoT: Windows 10 IoT Core and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. Windows 10 IoT Core is a stripped-down edition of Windows 10 that works on inexpensive gadgets with constrained resources, such as the Raspberry Pi. A full version of Windows 10 called Windows 10 IoT Enterprise operates on more potent gadgets with more sophisticated features, like industrial PCs and kiosks.
TinyOS
An open-source operating system called TinyOS is designed for low-power wireless devices like sensors, actuators, and radios. TinyOS is written in nesC, a component-based programming language that allows concurrency. With the help of TinyOS’s modular architecture, developers may adapt and fine-tune their apps for particular hardware platforms and network protocols. Numerous commercial and academic initiatives involving wireless sensor networks, ubiquitous computing, and cyber-physical systems make use of TinyOS.
Android Things
An operating system called Android Things is used to create smart devices that are powered by Google services and technology. The Android framework serves as the foundation for Android Things, which also supports its development tools and libraries. By offering APIs for typical activities like networking, authentication, cloud synchronization, voice interaction, and machine learning, Android Things makes it easier to construct IoT apps. For seamless connection with the Google ecosystem, Android Things also supports Google Play Services and the Google Cloud Platform.
RIOT
An open-source operating system called RIOT is designed to be resource-effective, developer-friendly, and IoT-optimized. RIOT provides a standard API for C or C++ programming and supports a wide variety of low-end to high-end devices. Real-time functionality, multi-threading, modularity, network stack abstraction, and hardware abstraction are all provided by RIOT. Additionally, RIOT supports several other communication protocols, including CoAP, MQTT-SN, 6LoWPAN, IPv6, RPL, TCP, and UDP.
Zephyr
For devices with little resources yet a need for security and connectivity, there is an open-source operating system called Zephyr. Based on a microkernel architecture, Zephyr supports modularity and scalability. Zephyr offers a single development environment with tools like CMake, Ninja, QEMU, GDB, and more. Zephyr supports a variety of architectures and boards. Additionally, Zephyr supports several other communication standards, including Thread, CAN, OpenThread, IEEE 802.15.4, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Contiki
For networked embedded systems, Contiki is an open-source operating system with a focus on low-power wireless communication. Contiki offers a versatile programming approach with possible dynamic loading and unloading of code modules. It also supports a variety of hardware platforms. Additional capabilities offered by Contiki include support for IPv6, RPL routing, CoAP application layer protocol, and others. In research and instruction using the Internet of Things and wireless sensor networks, Contiki is frequently employed.
Mbed OS
Fast and connected Internet of Things (IoT) device development is made possible by the open-source Mbed OS operating system for ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers. Drivers, libraries, network stacks, security modules, and cloud services are all included in the full-stack solution offered by Mbed OS. Additionally, Mbed OS supports numerous other communication protocols, including BLE, LoRaWAN, cellular, and NFC. You can provision, update, and monitor your IoT devices remotely thanks to the integration of Mbed OS with Mbed Cloud, a platform for device management.
Ubuntu Core
For IoT devices and cloud containers, Ubuntu Core is a stripped-down version of the operating system. Snap packages—secure, separated, transactional software units that may be updated and uninstalled atomically—are the foundation of Ubuntu Core. Along with these platforms, Ubuntu Core also supports AWS IoT Greengrass, Azure IoT Edge, and Google Cloud IoT Core. Ubuntu Core enables access to tens of thousands of snap programs and is compatible with the Ubuntu ecosystem.
These are a few IoT operating systems that you need to be familiar with by 2023. You should pick the option that best fits your needs and tastes because each has strengths and disadvantages. You should keep up with the most recent trends and advancements in this industry because IoT operating systems are always changing and getting better.
