Internet of Things (IoT)

ABSTRACT

This article provides an overview of the Internet of Things (IoT) with emphasis on enabling technologies, protocols, and application issues. The IoT is enabled by the latest developments in RFID, smart sensors, communication technologies, and Internet protocols. The basic premise is to have smart sensors collaborate directly without human involvement to deliver a new class of applications. In the coming years, the IoT is expected to bridge diverse technologies to enable new applications by connecting physical objects together in support of intelligent decision making.

INTRODUCTION

The Internet of things (IoT) is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles (also referred to as "connected devices" and "smart devices"), buildings, and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.In 2013 the Global Standards Initiative on Internet of Things (IoT-GSI) defined the IoT as "the infrastructure of the information society." The IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit in addition to reduced human intervention. When IoT is augmented with sensors and actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of cyber-physical systems, which also encompasses technologies such as smart grids, smart homes, intelligent transportation and smart cities. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure. Experts estimate that the IoT will consist of almost 50 billion objects by 2020.

Why is the Internet of Things important?

·         Intelligent transport solutions speed up traffic flows, reduce fuel consumption, prioritize vehicle repair schedules and save lives.

·         Smart electric grids more efficiently connect renewable resources, improve system reliability and charge customers based on smaller usage increments.

·         Machine monitoring sensors diagnose – and predict – pending maintenance issues, near-term part stockouts, and even prioritize maintenance crew schedules for repair equipment and regional needs.

·         Data-driven systems are being built into the infrastructure of "smart cities," making it easier for municipalities to run waste management, law enforcement and other programs more efficiently.

But, also consider the IoT on a more personal level. Connected devices are making their way from business and industry to the mass market. Consider these possibilities:

·         You’re low on milk. When you’re on your way home from work, you get an alert from your refrigerator reminding you to stop by the store.

·         Your home security system, which already enables you to remotely control your locks and thermostats, can cool down your home and open your windows, based on your preferences.

Enabling Technologies for IoT

There are many technologies that enable IoT. Crucial to the field is the network used to communicate between devices of an IoT installation, a role that several wireless or wired technologies may fulfill:

1.     Short-range wireless:

·         Bluetooth low energy (BLE) – Specification providing a low power variant to classic Bluetooth with a comparable communication range.

·         Light-Fidelity (Li-Fi) – Wireless communication technology similar to the Wi-Fi standard, but using visible light communication for increased bandwidth.

·         Near-field communication (NFC) – Communication protocols enabling two electronic devices to communicate within a 4 cm range.

·         QR codes and barcodes – Machine-readable optical tags that store information about the item to which they are attached.

·         Radio-frequency identification (RFID) – Technology using electromagnetic fields to read data stored in tags embedded in other items.

·         Thread – Network protocol based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, similar to ZigBee, providing IPv6 addressing.

·         Wi-Fi – Widely used technology for local area networking based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, where devices may communicate through a shared access point.

·         Wi-Fi Direct – Variant of the Wi-Fi standard for peer-to-peer communication, eliminating the need for an access point.

·         Z-Wave – Communication protocol providing short-range, low-latency data transfer at rates and power consumption lower than Wi-Fi. Used primarily for home automation.

·         ZigBee – Communication protocols for personal area networking based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, providing low power consumption, low data rate, low cost, and high throughput.

 

2.     Medium-range wireless:

·         HaLow – Variant of the Wi-Fi standard providing extended range for low-power communication at a lower data rate.

·         LTE-Advanced – High-speed communication specification for mobile networks. Provides enhancements to the LTE standard with extended coverage, higher throughput, and lower latency.

3.     Long-range wireless:

·         Low-power wide-area networking (LPWAN) – Wireless networks designed to allow long-range communication at a low data rate, reducing power and cost for transmission.

·         Very small aperture terminal (VSAT) – Satellite communication technology using small dish antennas for narrowband and broadband data.

4.     Wired:

·         Ethernet – General purpose networking standard using twisted pair and fiber optic links in conjunction with hubs or switches.

·         Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) – Specification enabling whole-home distribution of high definition video and content over existing coaxial cabling.

·         Power-line communication (PLC) – Communication technology using electrical wiring to carry power and data. Specifications such as HomePlug utilize PLC for networking IoT devices.