Our Embedded Systems & Industrial IoT area of expertise offers all services relating to the development of hardware and software, including cloud computing, for the entire range of industrial and consumer goods applications. This is because most industrial goods combine high-tech electronics and sensor technology with comprehensive software, increasingly in the form of cloud connections.
In order to optimise products and make them more energy-efficient, user-friendly or autonomously intelligent (AI), we at Lacon rely on developers who have specialised in their respective fields. This enables us to offer sophisticated process and product digitalisation.
From consulting to series production
We support you from consulting and assessment of the status quo and ROI analyses through design and development to series production of your customised solution. And the best thing is: at Lacon, the project does not end with the completion of the development order, but the systems are supported by us throughout the entire product life cycle.
Advantages of specific embedded IoT solutions
- Specific, yet open solution, can be integrated into new or existing IIoT landscapes
- Smart analysis and optimisation of information at the point of action using intelligent sensors, actuators or devices with modular/integrated SBCs
- Customised designs
- Standardised, open communication protocols
- High data security, even against hacker attacks
- Freedom of design, access to all processor functions
- Robust, even for extreme environmental conditions
- Iterative development of fully functional partial solutions
- Long-term availability and short-term delivery capability thanks to AI-supported supply chain
IoT connectivity makes industrial production processes smarter, more flexible and more cost-effective.
Our developers design the sensible networking and communication of machines, systems and data. This creates more opportunities to store, analyse and visualise large volumes of data and make valid predictions in order to leverage potential in production.
Embedded Systems & IoT Services
Development and operation
Making products and services IoT-capable means, above all, becoming independent of isolated information, manual intervention and slow process optimisation. This results in an IoT ecosystem consisting of embedded boards with hardware customisation, sensor technology, data logging and the software components for SBC, interfaces, cloud and apps.
Creation of an IoT ecosystem
- Creation of functional specifications in collaboration with several group companies
- Hardware development: embedded boards & modules, control system, master-slave concept, bus system, interfaces, sensors
- Software development: firmware & operating system configuration, cloud integration, data logging, visualisation, UX and apps of all kinds
- Complete integration of data communication via XML in ERP or converter
- Optimisation of the mechanical design in collaboration with the supplier of the enclosure system
Components of an IoT ecosystem
for your hardware and software landscape
The right ecosystem for the integration of smart Industry 4.0 or IoT solutions comprises six core components.
The software requirements include the greatest possible standardisation, maximum data security (industrial security) and real-time operation as well as customisation to your needs and flexibility of use.
- the entire logging periphery (data collectors, sensors, cameras, communication interfaces)
- the corresponding communication channels (GPIO, LAN, CAN, WiFi, 2-5G)
- can be called up from a cloud solution or on premise
- Possible direct processing of relevant data at the edge
- direct integration into the hardware environment of your control systems and controllers.
Possible questions for your IoT project
that we will be happy to answer
- Hardware: Decision point for the use of technological intelligence: At what point do products actually become "intelligent" and how does this work? (sensors, microcontrollers, firmware, etc.)
- Connection technology: Ask about the right connectivity: wired or WiFi, fieldbus technologies, protocol compatibility, etc.
- Edge computing: Why do I need it and what do I need to pay attention to? (Architecture concept, sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, peer-to-peer and ad-hoc networking)
- Cloud computing: How do the XaaS models differ? How do WISE-PaaS, EnSaaS, Azure etc. actually work and what are their strengths and benefits?
- Applications: Functions, data management, visualisations (global use, integration into existing systems, roll-out, etc.)
During the conceptual development of your IoT ecosystem, we keep an eye on the overall framework conditions (costs, transmission technology, environmental influences, life cycle management).
Based on these aspects, we create your customised hardware platform that accommodates and protects the IoT functional components. From individual applications on stand-alone machines to MES during operation, numerous networked data loggers and sensors make the applications on your peripheral devices more powerful, require less maintenance and are easier to monitor.
However, our vision of the new IoT platforms goes far beyond this to flexible, self-optimising production. In other words, added value is created with IoT integration directly on the devices, whose huge amounts of data automatically lead to process optimisations in real time using new analysis and visualisation methods.
IoT workshops for integration
With IoT workshops, Lacon offers a basic concept for the development of IoT projects. For business model adaptation, we are guided by the 4OR (pronounced "four") principle: Storming, Forming, Norming, Producing.
Designed for management, project managers and developers, we discuss the possibilities and limitations of a production changeover including the existing basis to full M2M service. The IoT workshops are also open to all interested parties who simply want to familiarise themselves with the topic. All participants receive a training certificate and all documents for further conceptualisation in the company.
Conclusion
Embedded systems - IoT as a hardware accelerator
Embedded systems and industrial IoT solutions raise existing production to a new Industry 4.0 standard. Lacon Design & Engineering develops new hardware and software and brings proven systems into an IoT landscape. Our highly qualified team of developers has many years of experience in customised embedded solutions and will be happy to support you with your next project.
Embedded systems are computer systems that are embedded in everyday devices and machines to perform specific functions. Unlike traditional computers, which are designed for general purpose, embedded systems are designed to perform a specific task or a small set of tasks efficiently. These systems are often integrated into things like home appliances, cars, medical devices, industrial controls, mobile phones, wearables and more.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected physical devices, sensors, machines and other objects that can collect, exchange and process data. The basic idea of IoT is that these objects can communicate with each other over the internet to share information and perform actions without direct human intervention.
By integrating IoT technologies, companies and end users can benefit from a variety of advantages, including improved efficiency, better decision-making, increased productivity, convenience and security.
Edge computing refers to a decentralised computing architecture in which data processing and storage take place as close as possible to the data source, typically at the "edge" of the network, i.e. close to the end devices or sensors. In contrast to conventional cloud computing models, where data is sent to remote data centres to be processed there, edge computing involves processing directly on site or in local data centres.
Edge computing is used in a variety of applications, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, smart cities, connected vehicles and telecommunications. It enables companies to improve the performance of their systems, develop new applications and respond to the demands of real-time and bandwidth-intensive applications.
When developing embedded IoT solutions, there are a number of aspects you should pay attention to in order to ensure that your solution is effective, reliable and secure. Here are some important points:
- Hardware selection: Choose hardware carefully to ensure it fulfils the requirements of your IoT application. Consider aspects such as performance, energy efficiency, size, cost and connectivity options.
- Security: Integrate security features into your embedded IoT solution from the outset to protect sensitive data and systems from threats. This includes encryption, secure authentication, access control and regular security updates.
- Connectivity: Choose the right wireless connectivity technology for your application based on range, data rate, power consumption and cost. This could include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRaWAN or cellular networks.
- Energy efficiency: As many embedded IoT devices are battery-powered, it is important to use energy-efficient designs to maximise battery life. Optimise energy consumption through smart power saving modes, efficient hardware components and optimised software algorithms.
- Data processing and analysis: Develop robust algorithms for data processing and analysis to gain useful insights from the collected data. Take into account the limited resources of embedded systems and optimise the algorithms accordingly.
- Scalability and flexibility: Design your embedded IoT solution so that it is scalable and can be easily expanded as your system grows. Also consider future requirements and developments to ensure flexibility.
- Ease of use: Make the user interface and interactions with your embedded IoT solution as intuitive and user-friendly as possible to increase user acceptance and satisfaction.
- Compliance and regulation: Ensure that your embedded IoT solution complies with applicable legal regulations and industry standards, especially in terms of data protection, security and environmental compatibility.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) are both models of cloud computing that provide companies and end users with various services via the internet.
Both PaaS and SaaS offer companies the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of cloud computing by using infrastructure and software resources flexibly and cost-effectively. The main difference lies in the services offered: PaaS focuses on the provision of development platforms and tools, while SaaS is aimed at the provision of finished software applications.
