BigClown IoT Kit Uses RF Connectivity and Batteries to Ditch the Wires

The Internet of Things is advancing rapidly, and at this point there are more kits and ecosystems than you can shake a stick at. In order to get ahead in that market, hardware manufacturers have to do something special to stand out. HARDWARIO is doing that with their BigClown IoT Kit in three ways: by using sub-GHz RF for wireless communication, by going open source, and by developing a lot of compatible modules.

The BigClown IoT Kit is now on Indiegogo, and is already more than halfway to its funding goal. The choice of name is rather unfortunate, but the devices themselves look promising. Unlike most IoT hardware on the market, individual BigClown modules connect to a central hub with a sub-GHz RF signal. That means that you don’t have to connect every module to your wireless network—only the hub needs to be online, and it can even be connected via LAN.

Further sweetening the deal is the open source nature of the system. Everything from the code, to the PCBs, to the enclosures are open and available. Basically, everything that HARDWARIO themselves have developed is up for grabs.

Finally, this is a well thought out system with a lot of modules to use. There are more than 30 modules ready to go, with more in development. Those components can run for years on a pair of AA batteries, and the central hub is compatible with existing IoT software like Ubidots, Blynk, IFTTT, and Microsoft Azure.