A first step towards building a solid IoT system

Dec 14, 2016 07:41 GMT  ·  By

Google has just announced Android Things, its official Internet of Things (IoT) operating system. In addition, the search giant announced an important update to its Weave platform, which is meant to make it easier for various types of devices to connect to the cloud and interact with many services, including Google Assistant.

The new Android Things can be downloaded starting today, as Google released a developer preview for those who want to build IoT products that will use the Android operating system.

With Android Things, any developer who has previously built an Android application can quickly create a smart device using Android APIs and Google services.

Google confirmed that Android Things includes most of the feedback it received from Project Brillo, which means it features tools like Android Studio, Android Software Development Kit (SDK), Google Play Services, as well as Google Cloud Platform.

Moreover, Google has announced that it will release Developer Preview updates in the coming months, which will add the infrastructure required for securely pushing regular OS patches, security fixes and even devs' own updates, along with built-in Weave connectivity.

Google wants to mearge Weave and Nest Weave

As mentioned earlier, Google updated its Weave platform, so device makers like Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings, which are already using this particular platform, as well others like Belkin WeMo, LiFX, Honeywell, Wink, TP-Link, and First Alert, can implement it.

For those unfamiliar with Weave, this Google solution for cloud infrastructures allows developers to focus on creating their products without having to invest resources in cloud services.

It's also worth mentioning that the updated Weave platform comes with a Device SDK for supported microcontrollers and a management console. For the time being, the SDK supports schemas for light bulbs, smart plugs and switches, as well as thermostats.

However, in the coming months, Google promises to add support for even more device types, custom schemas, and a mobile application API for Android and iOS.

Last but not least, Google states that it's already working on merging Weave and Next Weave, so there will be just one platform in the ecosystem.