When Robotics Meet IoT

The serene town of Port Dickson was abuzz with excitement from June 4th to June 7th, 2024, as UCAM and RISDA, in partnership with FAVORIOT, hosted the TVET-JELITA training program. This four-day intensive course, titled “Kursus Robotik Menggunakan Arduino/Raspberry Pi,” brought together women from various backgrounds—university students, business professionals, and tech enthusiasts—to delve into the world of robotics and IoT (Internet of Things).

The program occurred at The Guest Hotel & Spa, where participants were immersed in a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip them with practical skills and knowledge in IoT and robotics. The training consultant from FAVORIOT ensured that the sessions were engaging, interactive, and highly informative.

Training Agenda

The training program was meticulously structured to cover a wide range of topics, ensuring participants fully understood IoT and robotics.

Day 1:

• Morning Session: The day began with a lecture and discussion on the introduction to IoT, covering the IoT ecosystem and its components.
• Hands-On Sessions: Participants were introduced to the FAVORIOT IoT Platform, learning about user profiles, API keys, and platform management. This was followed by an introduction to hardware and assembling the Robo Pico Kit.
• Afternoon Session: The afternoon sessions included onboarding, an ice-breaking session, and hands-on activities with the Thonny IDE & Circuit Python, focusing on writing Python codes to get sensor data.

Day 2:

• Recap and Learning Continuation: The second day started with a recap of the previous day’s learning, followed by lectures and hands-on sessions using the Thonny IDE & Robo Pico with Raspberry Pi Pico.
• Advanced Hands-On Activities: Participants connected Robo Pico sensors to the FAVORIOT IoT Platform, understanding code and RESTful APIs. The day we concluded with developing a simple guided project.

Day 3:

• Creating Rules and Management: The third day covered creating rules and managing alerts on the FAVORIOT platform. Participants also explored MQTT and RPC with the FAVORIOT Platform, learning to send data using MQTT and manual actuation.
• Entrepreneurship Session: A session on entrepreneurship and business models provided valuable insights into turning their newly acquired skills into viable business ventures.

Day 4:

• Final Project Development: The final day included a recap of previous learning and a guided session to develop a simple project. The program concluded with a Contest, Q&A session and a closing ceremony.

Participant Testimonials

The training program garnered positive feedback from participants, highlighting the impact and value of the sessions.

Rabiatul Adawiyah binti Rizal: “Very good content, especially using the Raspberry Pi, as the experience of using Raspberry Pi is rarely exposed. Exposure to IoT is very thoroughly explained and understood. I’ve tried to implement IoT in my project before, however unsuccessfully, and have been trying to find a solution, which was solved by joining this programme.”

Nur Faiqah Tihani: “Materials provided are easy to read. trainers are good at explaining make it easy to understand.”

Radin Adib Aliesya: “I am very grateful to have joined this and finally know how to build a robot. Highly recommended!”

Aisya Sofea: “I am very satisfied with the content of this program. I’m sure the knowledge I gained from it will be useful for me in the future.”

Conclusion

The TVET-JELITA training program, hosted by UCAM and RISDA and facilitated by FAVORIOT, has successfully empowered a diverse group of women with the skills and knowledge to navigate the world of IoT and robotics. The comprehensive curriculum, hands-on activities, and expert guidance ensured that participants left with a deeper understanding and practical experience.

This initiative supports the development of technical skills. It encourages entrepreneurship and innovation among women, fostering a new generation of tech-savvy professionals ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities in the IoT landscape. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants underscores the program’s success and its significant impact on their professional and personal growth.

Favoriot’s Vision

Reflecting on my journey with FAVORIOT, I’m constantly amazed by how our platform has evolved to simplify IoT project development. This transformation is a testament to technological advancement and our commitment to empowering developers, businesses, and innovators.

When we founded FAVORIOT, our vision was clear: to create a platform that bridges the gap between the complex world of IoT and the practical needs of developers and businesses. IoT has the potential to revolutionize industries, improve efficiencies, and create new business models. However, the journey from concept to deployment can be fraught with challenges.

This is where FAVORIOT steps in, offering a solution that simplifies and accelerates the entire process.

The Challenges of IoT Development

Before diving into how FAVORIOT addresses these challenges, it’s essential to understand the typical hurdles faced in IoT project development:

1. Complexity of Integration: IoT projects often require integrating various devices, sensors, and protocols, which can be daunting.
2. Scalability Issues: Maintaining performance and reliability becomes increasingly tricky as projects grow.
3. Data Management: Handling large volumes of data from numerous devices necessitates robust data management and analytics capabilities.
4. Security Concerns: Data security and device integrity are paramount yet challenging.
5. Development Time: The time taken from ideation to deployment can be prolonged due to the need for extensive testing and integration efforts.

FAVORIOT: Simplifying IoT Development

At FAVORIOT, we’ve meticulously designed our platform to tackle these challenges head-on. Here’s how we do it:

1. Seamless Integration

One of the standout features of FAVORIOT is its ability to facilitate seamless integration. Our platform supports multiple protocols, allowing developers to connect a wide range of devices effortlessly. Whether you’re working with MQTT, HTTP, or CoAP, FAVORIOT provides the tools to integrate these devices into a cohesive system.

For example, I recall a project with a smart agriculture startup. They needed to integrate various sensors across multiple farms to monitor soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. Using FAVORIOT, they could effortlessly integrate these devices, regardless of the manufacturer or communication protocol. This capability significantly reduced their development time and complexity.

2. Scalability

Scalability is another critical aspect where FAVORIOT shines. Our cloud-based platform is designed to scale with your project. Whether you’re deploying ten devices or ten thousand, FAVORIOT ensures consistent performance and reliability.

I remember a particular instance with a smart city project where scalability was crucial. The city wanted to integrate their smart city solutions into a single dashboard – hydrology, lake quality and environmental information. FAVORIOT’s platform handled the influx of data from thousands of devices without a hitch, providing real-time analytics and insights. This scalability empowered the city to expand their IoT network seamlessly as their needs grew.

3. Advanced Data Management

Data is the lifeblood of any IoT project. FAVORIOT offers advanced data management capabilities that make it easy to collect, store, and analyze data from connected devices. Our platform provides real-time data visualization and analytics tools, enabling users to derive actionable insights quickly.

Take, for example, a healthcare IoT project we supported. The project aimed to monitor patients’ vital signs remotely. FAVORIOT’s data management tools allowed healthcare providers to receive real-time updates and alerts, facilitating timely interventions. The platform’s ability to handle large volumes of data and provide meaningful insights was a game-changer for the project.

4. Robust Security

Security is paramount in the IoT landscape, and at FAVORIOT, we take it very seriously. Our platform incorporates robust security measures to protect data and devices. From end-to-end encryption to secure APIs, we ensure that all communications and data transactions are secure.

I recall a project involving smart warehouse where security was a major concern. FAVORIOT’s security features provided the necessary safeguards, ensuring that warehouse’s data and privacy were protected. This assurance allowed the developers to focus on innovation, knowing that security was well-handled by our platform.

5. Accelerated Development

One of the core goals of FAVORIOT is to accelerate the development process. Our platform offers a range of development tools and resources that streamline project workflows. From ready-to-use APIs to comprehensive documentation and support, we provide everything developers need to get their projects up and running quickly.

A vivid memory that stands out is a collaboration with a university’s IoT research lab. The students were working on various IoT prototypes and needed a platform that could support rapid development and testing. FAVORIOT’s user-friendly interface and extensive support resources enabled them to develop and deploy their prototypes in record time, fostering innovation and learning.

Target Users of FAVORIOT

FAVORIOT is designed to cater to a diverse range of users, each with unique needs and objectives. Our target users include:

1. Developers and Startups

For developers and startups, FAVORIOT provides an accessible and scalable platform to turn ideas into reality. By simplifying the integration and development process, we enable innovators to focus on creating unique solutions without getting bogged down by technical complexities.

2. Businesses and Enterprises

Businesses looking to implement IoT solutions can leverage FAVORIOT to enhance their operations. Whether it’s improving operational efficiency, monitoring assets, or creating new revenue streams, our platform provides the tools needed to deploy IoT solutions quickly and effectively.

3. Educational Institutions

Educational institutions and research labs benefit from FAVORIOT’s user-friendly platform and comprehensive resources. By supporting rapid development and experimentation, we foster innovation and learning among students and researchers.

4. Smart Cities and Governments

For smart cities and government projects, FAVORIOT offers a scalable and secure platform to deploy large-scale IoT initiatives. From traffic management to environmental monitoring, our platform supports a wide range of applications that enhance urban living and governance.

Conclusion

Reflecting on our journey with FAVORIOT, I am proud of how far we’ve come in making IoT project development simpler and faster. Our platform has empowered countless developers, businesses, and innovators to bring their IoT ideas to life. By addressing the core challenges of integration, scalability, data management, security, and development time, FAVORIOT has established itself as a pivotal tool in the IoT ecosystem.

As we continue to evolve and expand our capabilities, our commitment remains steadfast: to simplify and accelerate IoT development for all our users.

Whether you’re a developer with a groundbreaking idea, a business looking to enhance operations, an educational institution fostering innovation, or a smart city aiming to improve urban living, FAVORIOT is here to support your journey.

Together, we can unlock the full potential of IoT and create a smarter, more connected world.

Join us on this exciting journey, and let’s build the future together.

Are we ready to propel forward in IoT?

What do we need to achieve this?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is not just a technological revolution; it’s an economic and industrial transformation reshaping how businesses operate and consumers interact with the physical world.

As IoT continues gaining traction, the need for skilled engineers and technical professionals with a deep understanding of IoT technologies and a firm grasp of business theory becomes increasingly critical.

This article examines why the industry needs more such professionals, particularly emphasizing Malaysia’s ambition to become a nation that not only consumes but also produces locally made IoT products.

Bridging the Gap between Demand and Supply

The IoT market is burgeoning.

By interconnecting devices and systems, IoT offers efficiencies, insights, and control that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

However, the supply of skilled professionals who can navigate the complexities of IoT needs to catch up with demand.

Addressing this talent gap is essential for countries like Malaysia that aspire to be at the forefront of this revolution.

Producing homegrown IoT solutions requires a workforce that understands not only the technical aspects of IoT but also the business implications and opportunities it presents.

The Five Crucial Technology Layers of IoT

1. Hardware and Sensors: IoT begins with the hardware—the sensors and devices that collect data. Engineers must understand the myriad of sensors available and their applications in various industries. This requires knowledge of electronics and embedded systems and integrating hardware into physical environments.
2. Connectivity: IoT devices must communicate, meaning professionals must be versed in networking. They need to know the best connectivity options—whether Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, or emerging technologies like 5G—and understand their implications for bandwidth, latency, and power consumption.
3. Middleware or IoT Platforms: This is where data is aggregated and managed. A robust understanding of choosing and utilizing an IoT platform — be it cloud-based or on-premises — is crucial. This includes making decisions based on scalability, reliability, and cost.
4. Applications: The value of IoT is realized through applications that turn raw data into insights and actions. Engineers must be skilled in software development and user interface design and have experience developing applications that meet customer needs.
5. AI and Security: As IoT systems generate massive amounts of data, using AI for analysis and machine learning becomes critical. Securing IoT systems against cyber threats is also non-negotiable. Professionals must be well-versed in cybersecurity strategies specific to IoT.

The Business Acumen in IoT

Understanding IoT technology is only half the battle.

The other half is grasping the ‘why’ behind IoT.

What problems does IoT solve? How can it drive business value?

Technical professionals must understand the business or industry they’re developing solutions for.

This includes market analysis, business case development, and articulating the return on investment for IoT initiatives.

Professionals should also be adept at designing and architecting IoT solutions that align with business goals.

They must understand how to leverage IoT data for strategic decisions, which requires a thorough understanding of data analytics, big data technologies, and how IoT can provide a competitive edge.

IoT in the Malaysian Context

For Malaysia to transition from a consumer to a producer nation in IoT, there must be an emphasis on education and training that equips future generations with the right skill sets.

Malaysian industries require professionals who can develop local IoT products that cater to the region’s unique needs, understand the local market, and navigate the intricacies of domestic and international business landscapes.

Training and Development

Recognizing this need, companies like Favoriot are stepping up to offer comprehensive IoT training programs.

These programs are tiered to cater to varying levels of expertise — from business professionals who need a foundational understanding of IoT to engineers seeking advanced training in AI and IoT security.

Such training modules are vital for industry engineers, business professionals, and academics who will eventually be responsible for disseminating IoT knowledge.

Conclusion

The demand for engineers and technical professionals with a comprehensive understanding of IoT and its technology layers, coupled with solid business theory, is not just a sector-specific necessity; it’s a national imperative for countries like Malaysia.

Investing in specialized IoT training, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and encouraging innovation is crucial to achieving the vision of becoming a producer nation.

By doing so, Malaysia can ensure that its future generation of talented professionals is capable of entering the industry and pioneering it, thereby securing a place for the nation at the forefront of the IoT revolution.

Favoriot offers four (4) IoT Training Courses, from business to AI. Contact us for the latest information about Favoriot IoT training.

Favoriot Testimonial Videos. Listen to what they have to say about the IoT Trainings.

This article, “Where are the IoT Talents in Malaysia?,” is originally published in Medium.