FAQ: MQTT, Modbus, and Other Technical Definitions

What is RESTful API?

RESTful API is short for REpresentational State Transfer Application Interface. It is a way for two software to communicate with each other. Usually RESTful APIs are used by developers to retrieve data from an online service.

What is MQTT?

MQTT is a messaging protocol used in low bandwidth environments which is often a requirement in IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) applications. MQTT is used for sending commands to a sensor and receiving the sensor data.

What is Modbus TCP?

Modbus TCP is a communication protocol used in industries all over the world. It is vendor neutral and makes it a convenient choice for system integrator to enable communication between sensors and a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) in an industrial environment. The protocol can be used for controlling equipment and sending sensor data between different devices.

How does Wi-Fi work for automation cameras?

FLIR automation cameras with a Wi-Fi network make use of radio waves to transmit information across a network. Wi-Fi is covered by IEEE 802.11 so often a technical language will refer to different IEEE 802.11 standards while more commercial language will talk about Wi-Fi. You can think of Wi-Fi as replacing the normal Ethernet cable. This means that everything related to IP addresses, need for a router and so on is the same the only differences is that you will need Wi-Fi antennas instead of Ethernet cables.

How does the web interface work for Axxx-Series cameras?

the A400/A500/A700 cameras offer a direct interface with the web which is used to configure the camera. Other devices such as routers, pan/tilt units, and most ethernet based sensors also can offer a web interface as it doesn’t require any software installations: the computer the camera or device will interact with already has the necessary software in the form of an internet browser. The only requirement is to have the latest version of known browsers such as Google Chrome or Internet Explorer.