The PICMG consortium for the development of open embedded computing specifications has ratified the IoT.1 specification that defines a communication standard between sensors/effecters and local IoT controllers such as micro sensor adapter modules (microSAM) specified by PICMG’s IoT.0 specification. Bringing multi-vendor plug-and-play interoperability to sensors and effectors, the specification supports both sensing and profiled motion control required by most Industry 4.0 applications.
The IoT.1 specification defines a firmware interface and low-level data model to enable multi-vendor interoperability. This allows for vendor-independent configuration of smart sensors and effecters, as well as plug-and-play interoperability with higher levels of the installation.
IoT.1 specification. Click for a larger image. (Source: PICMG)
The IoT.1 specification benefits the industry in four ways, said the consortium, which includes accelerating the adoption of smart-sensor technology through open specifications and interoperability. For suppliers, the specification enables sensor vendors to develop smart sensors without needing to manufacture the control circuitry and/or software by purchasing these components from PICMIG-compliant suppliers and allows controller suppliers to develop smart sensors or related components that are interoperable with other suppliers. The specification also enables sensor and effecter integrators to integrate devices from multiple vendors with multi-vendor controllers.
“When combined with the PICMG sensor-domain network architecture and data model, sensors connected to MicroSAMs (PICMG IoT.0) or other controller modules will seamlessly integrate into the network with plug-and-play interoperability,” commented PICMG.
The IoT.1 specification is PICMG’s first work product based on collaboration with the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). The specification extends the Platform Level Data Model (PLDM) specification from the DMTF to address the requirements of industrial automation and control applications.
PICMG defines the PLDM as a low-level messaging system that supports topologies, eventing, and discovery. It runs over a variety of system level buses such as I2C/SMBus and PCIeVDM (Vendor-Defined Message) over MCTP (Management Component Transport Protocol) as well as RBT (RMII-Based Transport (RMII = Reduced Media Independent Interface)) over NC-SI (Network Controller Sideband Interface).
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