FreeRTOS features

Local connectivity to an edge device running Amazon IoT Greengrass allows FreeRTOS devices to continue communicating, collecting data, and taking actions without a cloud connection. FreeRTOS devices can connect to the local network via Wi-Fi and Ethernet using local connectivity libraries such as Wi-Fi management. The Wi-Fi management library implements an abstraction layer for Wi-Fi features such as setup, configuration, provisioning, security, and power management.

Additionally, FreeRTOS devices can connect to Amazon IoT Core via a mobile device using Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity. Bluetooth Low Energy support in FreeRTOS enables you to use the standard Generic Access Profile (GAP) and Generic Attributes (GATT) profiles through a standardized API layer to create Bluetooth Low Energy applications, and use companion Android and iOS SDKs to integrate with Amazon IoT functionality.

Once FreeRTOS devices are connected to the local network they can easily connect to a local edge device, like Amazon IoT Greengrass Core devices, on the same local network using the Amazon IoT Greengrass Discovery API. FreeRTOS makes it easy for devices to initiate the discovery process and to connect to the desired Amazon IoT Greengrass Core. Local connectivity enables devices to communicate with each other at the edge, for example a security system in an office building that unlocks the door when you swipe a badge.

Cloud connectivity allows you to easily collect data and take actions on microcontroller-based devices for use in IoT applications and with other Amazon Web Services cloud services. You can connect FreeRTOS devices to Amazon IoT Core using MQTT-based messaging or HTTP. MQTT is a lightweight protocol with a small footprint, enabling efficient communication for constrained, microcontroller-based devices. FreeRTOS facilitates easy onboarding with standard, vendor-independent library interfaces. MQTT is a lightweight protocol with a small footprint, enabling efficient communication for constrained, microcontroller-based devices. Cloud connectivity allows devices like smart electricity meters to send back information on consumption and analyze that data with other Amazon Web Services services.

FreeRTOS also supports the Amazon IoT Core Device Shadow API with a Device Shadow library. Device Shadows create a persistent, virtual version, or “shadow,” of each device that includes the device’s latest state so that applications or other devices can read messages and interact with the device. Microcontroller-based devices, like a temperature controlled fan, can benefit from a device shadow by saving the latest state in the cloud, such as “rotating,” and then update the state to “stop,” so when the device is back online, it implements the action to stop.

FreeRTOS comes with libraries for security, including secure cloud connection, certificate authentication, key management, and a code signing feature.

FreeRTOS manages a secure connection to the cloud using Transport Layer Security (TLS v1.2). The TLS library implements an abstraction layer for the TLS protocol which provides privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications. In order to connect to the Amazon IoT Core MQTT broker, TLS client certificate authentication is required. FreeRTOS provides an abstraction layer for cryptographic object management and private key signature operations as a key management feature. Cryptographic objects are kept either in dedicated storage or in the flash memory of the main microcontroller if dedicated storage is not available. You can use the Amazon IoT Device Management console with FreeRTOS devices for code signing. The code signing feature will verify the signed image on the device to ensure your device code is not compromised during deployment and updates.

You can use Amazon IoT Device Management with FreeRTOS devices for an integrated OTA update solution. FreeRTOS makes deploying OTA updates for microcontroller-based devices less memory intensive by communicating those updates over a single TLS connection, shared with other Amazon IoT Core communications. You provide a firmware image, select the devices to update, select a code-signing method, and schedule the update, all within the Amazon IoT Device Management console. You can use OTA updates to deploy security updates, bug fixes, and new firmware updates to devices in the field.

The Amazon Partner Device Catalog lists devices that fully support FreeRTOS and its features and capabilities. You can easily and quickly find supported development kits as well as off-the-shelf devices such as gateways, edge servers, sensors, and cameras for immediate project integration. It offers development kits and embedded systems to build new devices, as well as off-the-shelf-devices such as gateways, edge servers, sensors, and cameras for immediate IoT project integration.

You can get started quickly by using the FreeRTOS console to configure and download source code specific to the qualified microcontroller and use case. It contains a project file download that is tailored to your chipset, integrated development environment (IDE), and compiler. You can select only the libraries you need, saving space on your device. To learn more about getting started, visit our getting started page.