Viam’s Micro-RDK: Maximizing the potential of embedded systems at the edge

Microcontrollers are at the forefront of modern technological innovation, powering everything from home automation devices to industrial machinery. These compact, cost-effective devices integrate processing, memory, and connectivity into a single package, making them ideal for embedded applications and IoT solutions.

However, their limited compute power and memory can pose challenges for handling complex tasks—especially when it comes to gathering, processing, and syncing data efficiently.

Viam’s Micro-RDK bridges this gap by providing a versatile development kit designed specifically for microcontrollers. The Micro-RDK simplifies the process of collecting, managing, and utilizing data from sensors and actuators, enabling smarter machine interactions at the edge.

The challenges of microcontrollers and machine data management

While single-board computers (SBCs) like Raspberry Pi broadened the horizons for compact computing in various applications, microcontrollers offer even greater benefits in terms of miniaturization, affordability, and energy efficiency. Microcontrollers are:

Smaller and cheaper: A typical microcontroller costs around $10, whereas SBCs can cost $60 or more.
Low power: Ideal for long-term, continuous operation, especially in remote or harsh environments.
Task-focused: Designed for simple tasks, often using bare-metal programming or real-time operating systems (RTOS).

These features make microcontrollers perfect for use cases like:

Automation: Controlling and managing actuators in smart systems.
Security systems: Powering motion detection and alarms.
Environmental monitoring: Collecting data on temperature, humidity, and air quality.

However, the compact design of microcontrollers limits their ability to handle compute-intensive tasks, making it challenging to sync large amounts of data or enable seamless communication between devices. That’s where Viam’s Micro-RDK comes in to bridge the gap.

Introducing Viam’s Micro-RDK

Viam’s Micro-RDK is a development kit that enables microcontrollers to operate efficiently within an edge ecosystem. Designed for popular microcontrollers like the ESP32 WROVER series, the Micro-RDK provides seamless data capture and integration, allowing users to harness the power of their devices more effectively.

Key Features of the Micro-RDK:

Seamless data capture and synchronization: Collect sensor data and sync it to the cloud, enabling unified management of IoT devices and real-time visibility.

*Image: A screenshot of the Viam portal showing data from a Micro-RDK--powered device at a glance.*

Actionable insights: Use in-app visualizations to analyze trends, set up alerts for key data points, and interact with your data via SQL or MQL.

Image: An example of in-app visualization available in the Viam portal. In this case, a sensor powered by Viam’s Micro-RDK shows temperature data over the course of an afternoon from a sensor at the Viam office.

Custom applications: Build custom scripts using Viam’s backend SDKs or develop bespoke web/mobile apps with front-end SDKs for remote device monitoring.

Flexible hardware support

The Micro-RDK is built for flexibility, supporting a wide range of hardware, including:

Sensors: Accelerometers (e.g., Analog Devices), ultrasonic sensors, and encoders.
Cameras: Compatible with OmniVision models for ESP32 microcontrollers.
Actuators: Standard DC motors and other common components.

Users can choose from a pre-configured build or build custom firmware to meet specific application requirements, ensuring seamless integration into diverse environments.

Real-world applications of the Viam Micro-RDK

The Micro-RDK is already demonstrating its value in production environments:

Digital Yacht’s NjordLINK App: Viam enabled Controller Area Network (CAN) bus data collection from a marine electronics company’s devices, allowing customers to monitor their boats in real time through a mobile app. Read more about Viam’s collaboration with Digital Yacht to help their customers instantly detect on a mobile app when their boat has drifted from where it was anchored here.

In-house environmental monitoring: At Viam’s NYC office, a fleet of ESP32 microcontrollers captures temperature and environmental data, syncing it to the cloud to help monitor and maintain consistent room temperatures. Read more about that project here.

VIDEO - Getting started with Micro-RDK

Whether you’re an experienced developer or new to microcontrollers, the Micro-RDK makes it easy to get started. Use our step-by-step guide to flash your ESP32 and begin capturing data in minutes. For more advanced use cases, customize your setup by creating new modules and integrating them into your firmware.

For a closer look at managing devices running the Micro-RDK in the Viam portal, watch the video below, where Product Manager Esha Maharishi demonstrates how she manages the previously-referenced fleet of temperature sensors at the Viam office.