Jan 29, 2024
Android Things is a new operating system that will make easier for developers to build IoT products. It is the Google’s latest and most comprehensive attempt to become a player in the Internet Of Things and to serve as a catalyst in the widespread adoption of IoT in both consumer and enterprise applications. It can run on products like connected speakers, smart thermostats, security cameras, routers, etc. The OS will allow companies to quickly bring new, life-changing products to the market.
It is the successor and a rebranded version of Brillo, an android based OS that Google announced in its I/O conference 2015 and was developed to support lower levels eg: wiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and other Peripheral. It used C++ as the primary development environment. Hence to support medium complexity devices and provide security environment there was a need to shift from Brillo’s lighter version of Android for developers to a new android version of OS named “Android Things”.
Android Things utilizes the Android development environment to make it easier for android developers to connect IoT devices. As of now Google has provided Android Things System Images for these three boards: Intel Edison, NXP Pico, and Raspberry Pi 3 and helps to build connected devices while leveraging Android APIs and the company’s cloud-based services for delivering updates and enabling voice commands.