Seebo Workflow and Autodesk Integration Helps Engineers Design IoT Products

Lior Akavia, the co-founder and CEO of Seebo. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

Autodesk has just taken another step towards creating an end-to-end IoT design platform thanks to the integration of Autodesk Forge and Seebo.

The integration of the Autodesk and Seebo platforms will help engineers design and build IoT products. Seebo users will gain the ability to design in Autodesk’s 3D interface, while Autodesk users will be able to tap into Seebo’s IoT development planning software.

CEO and co-founder, Lior Akavia, explained that Seebo offers engineers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that facilitates the planning, development and hardware sourcing for IoT products.

Engineers can drag-and-drop product features, such as sensors and connectivity options, onto a model of the product. Engineers can then use the Seebo marketplace to source the hardware they will need to make these features possible and compatible with each other.

How to Use Seebo and Autodesk to Design IoT Products

Seebo’s IoT Creator helps engineers assign IoT functions and where they will be integrated into the design. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

“Seebo simplifies the complex process of going smart by offering automated planning and functional design tools, a smart Hardware Engine, forecasting tools, cloud and app integration, IoT simulation and a third-party marketplace,” said Akavia. “This comprehensive software solution streamlines the entire smart product development process, dramatically decreasing development time and costs.”

Forge, on the other hand, is a development platform that connects components from Autodesk’s library of computer-aided design and engineering (CAD and CAE) software. The components are connected via a building-block system powered by the cloud.

The integration will allow for Autodesk 3D models to be uploaded into Seebo’s IoT Creator. This will give users the ability to allocate IoT functionality to the models, and map where they will be featured in the model during early development.

Seebo’s Hardware Engine translates IoT features into cost solutions and forecasts. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

“Design of the product starts with the IoT Creator, where the basis of the product’s functional design is created by assigning features to an image of the product,” explained Akavia. “The selected features are translated by the Hardware Engine into cost solutions, which can be used to forecast the costs of creating the smart product. The Hardware Engine helps to save development time by suggesting numerous possible hardware architectures and auto-generated block diagrams. This enables the platform user to choose the most efficient, cost-effective solution for the product concept quickly and painlessly.”

In other words, Seebo’s Hardware Engine translates the IoT functionality defined by the engineer into potential electronic design solutions. This is coupled with a list of potential hardware options, suppliers and cost breakdowns. Seebo users can then order prototypes from suppliers, or even source out factories and firmware, hardware and software engineers to further develop the product until it is ready for mass production.

Seebo Marketplace helps engineers find suppliers for their IoT hardware. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

“Seebo’s virtual IoT product planning environment gives manufacturers the tools to ideate, explore and validate use cases, and assign IoT hardware to a 3D product model – to identify and match the right hardware solutions to fit unique product concepts that meet the needs of the customers,” said Akavia. “The platform enables users to share product concepts with stakeholders, and engage and source third parties via Seebo Marketplaces to facilitate getting the smart product to market quickly and cost-effectively.”

Seebo’s smart device simulator allows engineers to better test their IoT designs. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

However, if you wish to keep development in house, engineers can make further use of the Seebo platform by accessing its software development kits (SDK), firmware libraries and device simulators.

What Does Seebo’s IoT Platform Mean for Autodesk Users?

Seebo Testing App connected to an IoT prototype. (Image courtesy of Seebo.)

Autodesk users will gain access to Seebo after they have registered for the product. Seebo users will have access to Autodesk’s 3D viewer at no extra charge. As a result, engineers and IoT developers can benefit from the integration of these products by reducing their development costs and workflows. Additionally, given Seebo’s outsourcing, testing and prototyping features, it can also help start-ups and small businesses launch their products quickly.

“Seebo’s IoT Marketplace provides access to IoT service providers including app, software, hardware and firmware developers, and IoT factories located worldwide,” explains Akavia. “Seebo provides developers with powerful development and collaboration tools. The platform is designed to enhance collaboration between service providers during the lifecycle of smart product development.”

So, how does Seebo mesh with Autodesk’s IoT platform Fusion Connect?

The answer is that Seebo will help to handle the backend design and production of the IoT product. Fusion Connect, on the other hand, will work on the software back end. Fusion Connect will focus more on the management, control and data management of the IoT product. Therefore, with this integration, Autodesk has taken a step to automate the IoT development cycle.

To learn more about Autodesk’s IoT technology, read: Fusion Connect IoT Platform to Embed Artificial Intelligence Modeling Engine.