IoT Bootcamp Helps Fill Demand for Building, Coding Smart Devices

What is the internet of things (IoT)? It’s an umbrella title that covers all the smart devices—from thermostats to fitness trackers to refrigerators—that collect data and then share that data over a network with the interest of making everything more efficient (be that energy consumption, your physical health, or how much you spend on groceries).

There’s already a proliferation of smart devices that are part of the IoT, but the network is growing fast. It’s estimated that there will be one trillion connected devices by 2035, which is more than 100 smart devices for every person on earth. With all the proliferation, there’s also a growing demand for people who can develop or effectively use connected devices, which is why CNM’s Deep Dive program will be offering a 10-week IoT Bootcamp starting Feb. 24. Applications are due Jan. 24.

“The Internet of Things is going to do everything from improve our quality of life to lower the cost of manufacturing, and we want to ensure we’re training a workforce to be ready for these jobs,” says Dr. Brian Rashap, Ph.D., the bootcamp instructor.

The City of Albuquerque already has an IoT initiative to make the city and its services smarter and more efficient. And Brian says the possibilities for how Albuquerque might use smart devices are endless. For example, if the city were to build a new stadium, he says they could use smart devices to dim some city lights and brighten others as a way to effectively direct pedestrian traffic entering or leaving the game. The city could also use smart devices to improve traffic, better monitor air quality, and enhance how tourists explore the city.

Local manufacturing businesses, as well as Sandia National Labs, will need lots of trained IoT employees if they’re going to keep up with what is being called Industry 4.0, he says. By connecting smart devices to manufacturing machines, Brian says businesses are able to monitor maintenance and production more efficiently and cost effectively, and also improve on safety.

“A smart use of the IoT is going to allow manufacturers here in New Mexico to really compete at a national and international level, and that’s going to make them a great hiring source for CNM graduates,” he says.

On the software side, Data Science is a growing field that’s directly related to IoT. Businesses and government agencies are realizing they need to do a better job of analyzing and capitalizing on data (CNM is also offering a Data Science bootcamp), but that data will only be useful if it’s being captured efficiently by smartly-designed connected devices.

“The learning is only as good as the data that’s available,” he says.

Students interested in the IoT bootcamp will need some basic high school math and a familiarity with computers, but a background in coding or manufacturing isn’t necessary. Brian says anyone looking to leave the hourly workforce and enter a higher-paying tech job should make a good candidate. The class will also appeal to entrepreneurs and military veterans who are used to working with their hands but want to develop civilian job skills.

During the IoT bootcamp, which will be held at the FUSE MakerSpace, students will start by building a smart light bulb. Then they’ll build connected devices that will perform power monitoring, vibration monitoring, and particle monitoring via the space’s manufacturing machines as a way to make the machines more efficient and to replicate how students might help a manufacturing business down the road. At some point, students will also build or invent smart city devices. Finally, students will build dashboards to monitor their devices.

Visit the IoT Bootcamp web page for more info.