Announced back in 2015, Google has finally released the first version of its operating system dedicated to the Internet of Things: Android Things. What does this OS contain? What does it offer?
What is Android Things?
It is in fact the Brillo project announced at Google I/O in 2015. The aim was simply to connect the devices in your home using Brillo-compatible hardware. The project, which had disappeared from Google’s conferences for almost three years, returned in 2018 under the name Android Things.
Android Things is a platform that lets you create connected objects using a modified version of Android. The aim is to create an IoT network at the heart of your home in order to link all your devices together (for example a rain sensor, a temperature controller, and so on); this platform lets you turn your home into a connected one. The goal is exactly the same as Brillo’s — according to developer communities, that project was too ambitious when it was announced in 2015.
So how does it work?
Android Things is built around three main pillars: the OS, regular updates, and the hardware. So first of all you need to get hold of IoT hardware compatible with Android Things. The full list is available on the official Android website, but here are a few examples:
- NXP i.MX8M
- Qualcomm SDA212
- Qualcomm SDA624
Once you have your hardware in hand, you need to go to the Android Things platform to download the appropriate SDK: it will let you develop applications for your IoT devices.
The platform also offers a console that lets you install or regularly update your applications’ bundles on the relevant components.
Finally, note that in order to make its platform as widely compatible as possible, Google has announced partnerships with major companies in the new technologies sector, such as LG, JBL, iHome and Lenovo.
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