diff --git a/aos/flatbuffer_utils.h b/aos/flatbuffer_utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b1c1ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aos/flatbuffer_utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#ifndef AOS_FLATBUFFER_UTILS_
+#define AOS_FLATBUFFER_UTILS_
+
+#include "flatbuffers/flatbuffers.h"
+
+namespace aos {
+
+// Returns a human readable description of the type.
+inline const char *ElementaryTypeName(
+    const flatbuffers::ElementaryType elementary_type) {
+  return flatbuffers::ElementaryTypeNames()[elementary_type] + 3;
+}
+
+}  // namespace aos
+
+#endif  // AOS_FLATBUFFER_UTILS_