Particle Projects

July 2021

Particle Blynk IoT Platform (2021)

In mid 2021, Blynk released the latest generation of the Blynk IoT Platform. This document will refer to this latest generation product as 'Blynk 2021' (shamefully, an offical Blynk reference to differentiate it from the prior generation could not be found).

Overview

Blynk is an IoT Platform that provides connectivity betweeen IoT devices and mobile apps via the Blynk Cloud. It's unique features are 1) the ease at which you can build a mobile app on a Android or iOS device phone (no coding), and 2) the simple and consistent methodology for sending data from nearly any IoT device to the Blynk Cloud. In general, the IoT device communicates with the Blynk Cloud, and the Web Dashboard and Mobile Dashboard (Blynk app) also communicate with the Blynk Cloud.

Connection types between each IoT device and the Blynk include WiFi, Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, BLE, and GSM.

Devices of a similar type and configuration are organized into a common 'Device Template'. Each Device Template has metadata, Datastreams, and Events that are common to all devices derived from the Device Template. Datastreams are channels for time-stamped data that flows in and out between the IoT device and the Blynk Cloud.

The maximum rate a IoT device can push data to the Blynk Cloud is one per second or 1.0 Hz (this is the typical rate for most . However, the IoT device can push ten values simultaneously for a single sensor in a package every second, achieving an effective rate of 10 Hz (1 sample every 0.1 sec). Virtual pin double values are limited to fifteen digits, so a floating point value range of -1E+14 to +1E+14. Virtual pin integer values may be -2147483648 to +2147483647. You can also push data from the custom Blynk mobile app and/or the Blynk online web dashboard to the IoT device. The IoT device can be programmed to react to the data pushed from the mobile app or the web dashboard, such as responding to a mobile app or web dashboard switch state or slider value.

Each Blynk account supports an organization and sub-organizations. Membes, devices, and locations are assigned to organizations or sub-organizations. Members may be assigned the role of 'Admin', 'Staff' and 'User'.

The firmware on IoT devices can be updated in bulk over the air (OTH) from the Blynk Console using the Blynk.Air service. Full management of the IoT firmware updates is provided.

Every message sent via Blynk is encrypted and secure provided the hardware supports TLSv1.3 or TLSv1.2 (transport layer security protocol) and uses port 443. Granular permissions allow you to customize what members may do and see.

Blynk 2021 Overview

Blynk Quick Start Demo

Do you need help developing or customizing a IoT product for your needs? Send me an email requesting a free one hour phone / web share consultation.

The information presented on this website is for the author's use only. Use of this information by anyone other than the author is offered as guidelines and non-professional advice only. No liability is assumed by the author or this web site.