The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IIoT) share common objectives for translating streams of sensor data to useful information. For developers, however, significant differences lie in basic requirements including power, connectivity, and design reliability and robustness.

For the IoT, the need for small size, battery operation, and wireless connectivity dictates use of low-power MCUs with integrated radio subsystems for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communications. In contrast, the combination of harsh operating conditions, very large numbers of local sensors, and legacy systems drives the need for robust interconnect and the use of edge devices able to offload conventional PLCs.

This article will work through the unique set of requirements for IIoT applications, relative to consumer IoT. It will show that despite the extra demands, developers can find a broad array of solutions able to meet specific requirements for applications targeting either domain.