Testing IoT devices

How often have you thought about how smart your surroundings are? All these IoT healthcare solutions, smart refrigerators, moisture sensors, and so on no longer surprise us as much as they did a few years ago.

They are all part of a well-coordinated mechanism that we don't even think about until we need to upgrade or repair it. All of these smart appliances, smartwatches, and sensors that surround us are part of a single ecosystem of IoT devices.

For all these sensors and smart kettles to work stably, and most importantly without harming people and other devices in the system, they must all be tested for defects (whether software or hardware), stability, and impact on other devices in the ecosystem. This verification, called IoT device testing, will be discussed today.

What is IoT (Internet of Things)?

The motion sensor in your office, the smart electronics in your kitchen scale, and even your fitness tracker that counts your steps and heart rate are all part of a single system called the Internet of Things. Years of digitalization, marketing based on “smart electronics” and the desire to connect everything to the Internet have created the IoT as we know it today.

In a more modern form, the IoT ecosystem can be called all devices connected to a single iot dashboard and have an “Internet connection”. While working, doing routine tasks, or relaxing, dozens of IoT sensors around you collect and transmit all possible information for further analysis and use.

Any IoT device consists of the following parts:

• The physical device itself, which is embedded in electronics or directly in your space.
• Sensors and detectors that are connected to and controlled by the device.
• The software that controls iot device, is responsible for the proper operation of the sensors and the collection and transmission of data from physical devices to the Internet. It is also sometimes stated that the software must use standardized communication protocols, but this is not relevant if the device manufacturer integrates its protocols.

What is IoT testing, and why is it needed?

All IoT devices that go on sale undergo a number of tests, ranging from function checks to testing the device in various use cases.

Testing an IoT device is a protocol for verifying the performance of an IoT device and all its components and parameters. IoT device testing includes a whole list of activities aimed at checking the security, functionality, interconnection with other devices in the ecosystem, performance, and compliance of the device parameters with generally accepted standards.

Since each IoT device is a unique set of hardware and software code, testing each IoT device is also unique. This is one of the reasons why it is not possible to test all devices using a single, standardized scenario. But what is certain about testing each IoT device is that they all require testing of each of their components. Testing each area of operation and level of functioning of the device is also called “IoT testing frameworks”.

Levels of IoT testing

As we've already mentioned, each IoT device is a unique combination of hardware and software, so testing each one is unique. It is not possible to test all devices according to the same principle, using the same tests for each of them. Usually, when testing a device, it is conditionally divided into several levels of operation, each of which needs to be tested both separately and in interaction with others. As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, they are also called IoT testing frameworks. The topic of this section will be the levels into which the device is divided during testing.  

IoT device level: This is where the device itself is tested. This includes testing the device's component base, controls, and firmware. Due to its specifications, testing the device requires highly specialized IoT experts. Since devices are often used under different conditions, both weather and load conditions, all these factors should be included in the testing system.

The level of communication testing: This can include testing the communication between all layers of the device, both with each other and with other devices in the network. This level of testing includes tests of communication protocols, gateways, their correct operation, and the entire system. This level is considered the most difficult to pass, as it covers a large number of settings and protocols.

Data processing level: At this level, testers are tasked with verifying how the device handles all the data it receives, generates, and transmits to the network. The way the device analyzes and stores data is a major focus, as resource issues can halt the entire production of a device.

Application layer: The application layer is perhaps the easiest of all the testing levels, as it is most similar to classic software testing. This level focuses on testing the software, its front-end and back-end, and the application if there is one.

Types of testing IoT devices

The IoT ecosystem, no matter how smart and reliable it may seem, has its challenges in getting new devices up and running. The ecosystem can collapse due to a large-scale problem, a peripheral error, a connection loss, or a problem with one specific device. That is why it is important to exclude most of the most common problems during testing so that the user does not have to deal with them in the future.

Despite all the uniqueness and diversity of each device, there is still a list of aspects that are mandatory for testing all possible devices. So let's take a look at the list of these testing procedures.

Smoke testing: In this stage of testing, the new device is checked and a decision is made as to whether it is ready for testing. Attention is paid to the stability of the IoT system.

Functional testing of the device: involves testing all the functions that the device performs in the ecosystem. At this stage, it is important to test both the operation of the device itself and its operation in combination with others.

Module testing of the device: this is designed to test the correct operation of the code for each module, component, or device in the ecosystem.

Integration testing of the device: at this stage of testing, all modules work together. In case the presented IoT solution consists of several devices, it is important to test their joint work.

End-to-end device testing: classic testing of the device from A to Z. Testing is performed in scenarios as an ordinary user would do.

Regression testing of the device: After each update to the hardware or software part of the ecosystem, it is tested to ensure that it works correctly.

Application or Dashboard UI Testing: UI testing is an important milestone in testing, as it requires a stable system and the successful completion of the previously mentioned tests. Any device requires either an application or a control interface to allow the user to interact with the device.

Performance testing of the device or solution: performance testing focuses on removing all blockers that prevent the device from performing at its optimal level under various conditions. Since each device in the IoT ecosystem may have its own speed and response time, it is important to test all possible performance parameters.

Testing the security of the connection to the device: at this stage, all loopholes in the secure transfer of data from the device to the network and back are searched for and eliminated. It is important to check for vulnerabilities in both the device itself and the systems after its integration.

Communication Stability Testing: Checking the stability of the device's connection to the network is no less important than niches. This stage is aimed at testing the quality of the connection between the device and the network, as well as between all devices in the system.  

Device and OS compatibility testing: Now an important step is to check the interaction between the device under test and other devices in the system. We also test compatibility with the user's OS, browser, and network.

Usability testing: needed to assess whether the IoT management interface provides an optimal user experience.

Scalability testing of the future system: checks whether the device supports interaction with multiple users and systems.

Physical device reliability testing: This testing is designed to verify that devices work reliably under different environmental conditions.

Network flexibility testing: the stage of checking the device's performance when using different connection protocols, such as LoRaWAN, ZigBee, and the like.

Regulatory compliance testing: verify that the device complies with all the rules, regulations, standards, and compliance checkpoints set by the industry.

Conclusion

In this article, we've looked at the intricacies of testing IoT devices. We explained why it is necessary to test obvious things that will play an important role in the future. Since each device is unique, there is no standardized testing scenario, so when testing a device, you need to test every aspect of it. It is also worth noting that it is impossible to guarantee the reliable and long-term operation of the device if it is tested without interaction with other devices and systems. And remember, even the most sophisticated device will not provide a decent user experience if it does not have a convenient and proven control interface.