29 Free IoT Courses You Can Take Right Now

There’s no denying the Internet of Things (IoT) is on the rise. With the market predicted to reach $1.7 trillion by 2020, I would say now is a pretty good time to get started. Whether you’re interested in specialization or education, I’ve compiled a list of the best free and paid IoT courses to help you on your way.

Note: The ratings for these courses are from students and not all courses are rated.

Understanding IoT for Engineers

Free IoT Courses:

• Fog Networks & IoT: Princeton University | This course dives into Fog Networks, explaining the architecture behind Fog and how this will play a role in IoT. ★★★☆☆
• Internet of Things: Multimedia Technologies: UC San Diego | You can audit this course for free and learn the principles of video and audio codecs used for media content in iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Netflix, etc. ★★★★☆
• Internet of Things and Augmented Reality Emerging Technologies: Yonsei University | If you’re up for a challenge, this course is for you. This lecture series covers the essential functions of IoT and AR, though the reviews say that it fails to explain many basic concepts and vocabulary. ★★☆☆☆
• Internet of Things, Roadmap to a Connected World: MIT | The course takes you through the vastness of Big Data technologies, processes, algorithms and architectural approaches and provides you with the building blocks of a Big Data strategy for your project/company.
• Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things: University System of Georgia | This course is for you if you’re curious about the most recent trends and activities in the internet capabilities and concerns about programmed devices. There are complexities and areas of necessary awareness when the industrial sector becomes connected to your home.
• Enabling Technologies for Data Science and Analytics: The Internet of Things: Columbia University | In this data science course, you will learn about the major components of the Internet of Things and how data is acquired from sensors. You will also examine ways of analyzing event data, sentiment analysis, facial recognition software and how data generated from devices can be used to make decisions
• Fundamentals of IoT Development with ThingWorx: PTC | This introductory course will teach you how to model, connect, analyze, and build Internet of Things applications using ThingWorx, an industry-class platform used by developers across the globe. The course is centered on a project where you build an automated IoT system and is supported by lectures and hands-on tutorial exercises.

Understanding IoT for Entrepreneurs

Free IoT Courses:

• The Internet of Things: Kings College London | Over four weeks, you’ll meet IoT pioneer, Professor Mischa Dohler, and some of the most experienced experts in the field, from business leaders to future thinkers, to equip you with business insights to help you become an Internet of Things wizard.★★★★☆
• Unpacking the Internet of Things: Udemy | This course includes academic research, business case studies, and incorporates eLearning best practices in order to provide you with an engaging and worthwhile learning experience. ★★★★☆
• How the Internet of Things and Smart Services will Change Society:Open SAP | After completing the course, you will be able to explain key terms and trends around the Internet of Things. You will have an understanding of the potential and value of the Internet of Things and Smart Services, and you will understand the opportunities and benefits for society, companies, and consumers. ★★★★☆
• Internet of Things: How did we get here? UC San Diego | In this course, you will explore the convergence of multiple disciplines leading to today’s Smartphones. You will learn about the birth and evolution of Telephony Networks, Broadcast Networks (TV and Radio) and Consumer Electronics.
• New Business Markets in the Internet of Things: Udemy | This course focuses on describing how the Internet of Things is transforming market segments and associated business strategies. In particular, it investigates how smart, connected products are transforming traditional industry boundaries and creating new market segments called IoT Settings. ★★★★☆

Paid IoT Courses:

• IoT for Executives: Experfy | This one-day fast paced deep dive into the Internet of Things is designed for business executives who want to understand what the Internet of Things is and the potential impacts it can have on a business.
• Implementing an IoT Business: Experfy | This course is geared towards executives or managers responsible for implementing an IoT business in their companies.
• Analytics for the Internet of Things: Experfy | This course will first give an introduction to the concept of IoT and then provide students with the knowledge of how to handle the data deluge related to IoT.

IoT Software

Free IoT Courses:

• A Developer’s Guide to the Internet of Things: IBM | This course is an entry level introduction to developing and deploying solutions for the Internet of Things. It will focus on capturing data from a trusted device and sending the data to a cloud platform where it can be exploited by the many services available. ★★★★☆
• Software Architecture for the Internet of Things: EIT Digital | This course will teach you how to design future proof systems that meet the requirements of IoT systems: systems that are secure, interoperable, modifiable and scalable. Moreover, you’ll learn to apply best-in-class software architecture methods to help you design complex IoT and other applications.
• A Developer’s Guide to Exploring and Visualizing IoT Data: IBM | This course is designed for developers who want to improve their data analysis skills or data analysts who want to become expert in finding interesting patterns in IoT Sensor Data. ★★★★☆
• Processing Real-Time Data Streams in Azure: Microsoft | This data analysis course teaches you how to use Microsoft Azure technologies like Event Hubs, IoT Hubs, and Stream Analytics to build real-time Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions at scale.

IoT Hardware

Free IoT Courses:

• Modeling & Simulation using Simulink: RheinMain University | The main objective of this MOOC is to teach you how to use of Simulink® as a simulation tool suitable for a broad variety of application domains. 4.5/5 stars
• Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation from Devices: UC San Diego | In this course, you will learn to interface common sensors and actuators to the DragonBoard™ 410c hardware. You will then develop software to acquire sensory data, process the data and actuate stepper motors, LEDs, etc. for use in mobile-enabled products.
• Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems: University of California, Irvine | In this first class in the specialization you will learn the importance of IoT in society, the current components of typical IoT devices and trends for the future. IoT design considerations, constraints and interfacing between the physical world and your device will also be covered. ★★★★☆

Image credit: Flickr

Arduino & Raspberry Pi

Free Courses:

• Interfacing with Arduino: University of California, Irvine | In this class you will learn how and when to use the different types of sensors and how to connect them to the Arduino. ★★★★☆
• The Arduino Platform and C Programming: University of California, Irvine | In this class you will learn how the Arduino platform works in terms of the physical board and libraries and the IDE (integrated development environment). You will also learn about shields, which are smaller boards that plug into the main Arduino board to perform other functions such as sensing light, heat, GPS tracking, or providing a user interface display. ★★★☆☆
• Develop Java Embedded Applications using Raspberry Pi: Oracle | This course introduces Java developers to the world of embedded devices and the Internet of Things (IoT).
• Interfacing with Raspberry Pi: University of California, Irvine | Most physical devices use analog signals; however computer hardware is digital so in this class you will learn how these signals are converted back-and-forth and how this must be considered as you program your device. ★☆☆☆☆
• The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for Raspberry Pi: University of California, Irvine | The Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable single-board computer that you will use to design and develop fun and practical IoT devices while learning programming and computer hardware. In addition, you will learn how to set up up the Raspberry Pi environment, get a Linux operating system running, and write and execute some basic Python code on the Raspberry Pi. ★★★☆☆
• PCB Design a Tiny Arduino in Altium CircuitMaker: Udemy | This course is a first of its kind in which you will learn from start to finish on how to design your very own custom Tiny Arduino Printed Circuit Board (PCB). This course will help you to improve your PCB design skills which will help you to get started freelancing or to get a job in PCB design with Altium CircuitMaker being one of the top FREE PCB design tools used around the world. ★★★★☆

Image Credit: Robotics Expo

Drones & Robots:

Free Courses:

• Robotics Motion Systems: University of California, Irvine | Building Robots is a fun and engaging way to develop key skills that are in high demand. In this class, you will learn about robotic motion systems for on-ground robots (chassis, wheels, bodies, arms, legs, head), flying machines (drones, fixed-wing, rotary systems), underwater and space-based systems.
• Optics for Robots and Drones: University of California, Irvine | In this course, students will learn how to identify and configure optical components such as lenses, windows, mirrors, filters, polarizers, gratings and prisms. Creating and detecting light using lasers, LEDs, cameras and detectors will also be covered.
• Building Arduino Robots & Devices: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology | This course consists of a series of practical problems on making things that work independently: they make their own decisions, act, move, communicate with each other and people around, and control other devices. *This course is in Russian with English subtitles.★★★★★
• Autonomous Mobile Robots: ETH Zurich | The objective of this course is to provide the basic concepts and algorithms required to develop mobile robots that act autonomously in complex environments. The main emphasis is put on mobile robot locomotion and kinematics, environment perception, probabilistic map based localization and mapping, and motion planning.

Multi-Class Specializations

• An Introduction to Programming the Internet of Things: University of California, Irvine | This Specialization covers embedded systems, the Raspberry Pi Platform, and the Arduino environment for building devices that can control the physical world.
• Introduction to Robotics: University of Pennsylvania | The Introduction to Robotics Specialization introduces you to the concepts of robot flight and movement, how robots perceive their environment, and how they adjust their movements to avoid obstacles, navigate difficult terrains and accomplish complex tasks such as construction and disaster recovery.
• Emerging Technologies: From Smartphones to IoT to Big Data: Yonsei University | Topics covered include Smartphones, OS, Cloud Computing, Big Data, CDN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Communication, LTE, LTE-Advanced, IoT, AR, IPv4, IPv6, TCP, UDP, and Internet operations.
• Build Your Own Internet of Things: UC San Diego | This Specialization covers the development of Internet of Things (IoT) products and services — including devices for sensing, actuation, processing, and communication — to help you develop skills and experiences you can employ in designing novel systems.