The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the real-time collection of any objects or processes that need to be monitored, connected, and interacted with, through various devices and technologies such as information sensors, radio frequency identification technology, global positioning systems, infrared sensors, laser scanners, etc., collecting various required information such as sound, light, heat, electricity, mechanics, chemistry, biology, location, etc., and achieving ubiquitous connectivity between things and things, things and people through various possible network accesses, enabling intelligent perception, recognition, and management of objects and processes. The IoT is an information carrier based on the Internet, traditional telecommunication networks, etc., which allows all independently addressable ordinary physical objects to form an interconnected network.
IoT devices are non-standard computing devices that can be wired/wirelessly connected to the network and have the ability to transmit data.
IoT involves expanding the scope of Internet connectivity from standard devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets to any range of traditional "dumb" or non-Internet-enabled physical devices and everyday objects. These devices are embedded with technology that enables communication and interaction through the Internet. They can also be remotely monitored and controlled.
Connected devices are part of an ecosystem where each device communicates with other related devices in the environment to automatically perform household and industry tasks. They can convey available sensor data to users, businesses, and other intended parties.
These devices can be divided into three major categories: consumer, enterprise, and industrial.
Consumer connected devices include smart TVs, smart speakers, toys, wearables, and smart appliances.
For example, in a smart home, devices are designed to sense and respond to human presence. When a person returns home, their car communicates with the garage to open the door. Upon entering the house, the temperature regulator has already been adjusted to their preferred temperature, and the lighting is set to a lower intensity and color, as indicated by their smartwatch data that it is a stressful day. Other smart home devices include sprinklers that adjust watering based on weather forecasts and robotic vacuum cleaners that understand the areas of the house that are most frequently cleaned.
Enterprise IoT devices are edge devices designed for enterprise use. There are various types of enterprise IoT devices available. These devices have different functions, but tend to focus on maintaining facilities or improving operational efficiency. Some options include smart locks, smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart security systems.
Consumer versions of these technologies also exist.
In the enterprise, smart devices can assist in holding meetings. Smart sensors located in the conference rooms can help employees identify and schedule available rooms for meetings, ensuring the use of suitable room types, sizes, and functions. When participants enter the conference room, the temperature will be adjusted according to occupancy, the lights will dim as the appropriate PowerPoint slides load on the screen, and the presenter begins their presentation.
Examples of consumer, enterprise, and industrial IoT devices include smart TVs and smart sensors installed in conference rooms and on assembly line machines.
Industrial IoT devices are designed for use in factories or other industrial environments. Most industrial IoT devices are sensors used to monitor assembly lines or other manufacturing processes.
Data from various types of sensors will be transmitted to the monitoring application to ensure that critical processes are operating at their optimal state. These same sensors can also prevent unexpected downtime by predicting when parts need to be replaced.
If a problem occurs, the system may be able to send a notification to service technicians, informing them of the issue and the parts required to resolve it. This can avoid technicians having to diagnose the problem on-site and then go to the warehouse to obtain the necessary parts.
How do IoT devices work?
IoT devices vary in terms of functionality, but they share some similarities in their working methods. Firstly, IoT devices are physical objects designed to interact with the real world in some way. The device could be a sensor on an assembly line or a smart surveillance camera. In either case, the device can perceive what is happening in the physical world.
The device itself includes an integrated CPU, network adapter, and firmware, typically built on an open-source platform. In most cases, IoT devices connect to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server and obtain an IP address that allows the device to operate on the network. Some IoT devices can be directly accessed through the public internet, but most are designed to operate only on private networks.
Although not absolutely required, many IoT devices are configured and managed through software applications. However, some devices have an integrated web server, so no external application is needed.
Key Technologies
Radio Frequency Identification Technology
When it comes to IoT, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which has garnered significant attention in the development of IoT, must be mentioned. RFID is a simple wireless system consisting of an interrogator (or reader) and many transponders (or tags). The tag consists of a coupling element and a chip, each with a unique electronic code that identifies the target object. It transmits radio frequency information to the reader through an antenna, and the reader is the device that reads the information. RFID technology allows objects to "speak." This gives IoT the characteristic of trackability. That is, people can keep track of the exact location of objects and their surrounding environment at any time.
Sensor Networks
MEMS is the acronym for Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems. [1] .
M2M System Framework
M2M, an abbreviation of Machine-to-Machine/Man, refers to networked applications and services centered around intelligent interaction between machine terminals. It enables intelligent control of objects. M2M technology involves five key technical components: machines, M2M hardware, communication networks, middleware, and applications. Based on cloud computing platforms and intelligent networks, decisions can be made based on data obtained from sensor networks, altering the behavior of objects for control and feedback. Take smart parking lots as an example. When a vehicle enters or leaves the antenna communication zone, the antenna exchanges data bidirectionally with an electronic identification card through microwave communication, reading relevant information from the electronic vehicle card and the driver's card, automatically recognizing both cards, and determining the validity of the vehicle card and the legality of the driver's card. It verifies the license plate number and driver information displayed on the lane control computer that correspond one-to-one with the electronic vehicle card and driver card. The lane control computer automatically stores information about the passing time, vehicle, and driver in the database, and based on the data read, it determines whether the card is normal, unauthorized, missing, or illegal, and responds and provides prompts accordingly. Additionally, when elderly family members wear smartwatches embedded with intelligent sensors, their children in other places can check their parents' blood pressure and heartbeat stability through their mobile phones at any time. When the owner of the smart home is at work, the sensors automatically turn off water, electricity, gas, and doors and windows, and regularly send messages to the owner's phone to report safety conditions [1] .
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing aims to integrate multiple relatively low-cost computing entities into a perfect system with powerful computing capabilities through the network, and leverages advanced business models to provide end users with services utilizing these powerful computing capabilities. If we compare computing power to power generation capacity, the shift from the ancient single-machine power generation model to the modern centralized power plant supply model is similar to the shift from the commonly used single-machine computing model to cloud computing, with "cloud" acting like a power plant, possessing powerful computing capabilities that single machines cannot match. This means that computing power can also be circulated as a commodity, just like gas, water, and electricity, which are convenient to use and inexpensive, so that users do not need to equip themselves with it. Unlike electricity transmitted through power grids, computing power is transmitted through various wired and wireless networks. .
Application
The application areas of the Internet of Things (IoT) cover various aspects. In infrastructure fields such as industry, agriculture, environment, transportation, logistics, and security, IoT applications have effectively promoted the intelligent development of these areas, enabling more rational use and allocation of limited resources, thereby enhancing industry efficiency and benefits. In fields closely related to daily life, such as home furnishing, healthcare, education, finance and service industries, and tourism, IoT applications have brought significant improvements in terms of service scope, service methods, and service quality, greatly enhancing people's quality of life. In the field of national defense and military affairs, although it is still in the research and exploration stage, the impact of IoT applications cannot be underestimated. From large-scale equipment systems such as satellites, missiles, aircraft, and submarines to small-scale individual combat equipment, the integration of IoT technology has effectively enhanced military intelligence, informatization, and precision, greatly improving military combat effectiveness. It is the key to future military transformation [4] .
Intelligent Transportation
The application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in road traffic is relatively mature. With the increasing popularity of private vehicles, traffic congestion and even gridlock have become a major problem in cities. Real-time monitoring of road traffic conditions and timely dissemination of information to drivers enable them to make timely travel adjustments, effectively alleviating traffic pressure. The installation of automatic toll collection systems (ETC for short) at highway intersections eliminates the time required for card retrieval and return at entrances and exits, improving vehicle traffic efficiency. The installation of positioning systems on buses allows timely access to bus routes and arrival times, enabling passengers to plan their trips accordingly and avoid unnecessary time waste. In addition to traffic pressure, the increase in private vehicles has also made parking difficulties an increasingly prominent issue. Many cities have launched smart on-street parking management systems, which are based on cloud computing platforms and combine IoT technology with mobile payment technology to share parking resources, improve parking utilization rates, and enhance user convenience. The system can be compatible with both mobile phone and radio frequency identification (RFID) modes, allowing users to timely access parking information and locations, make advance reservations, and complete payment through mobile phone APP software. This has greatly solved the problem of "difficulty in finding and parking" [4] .
smart home
Smart home is the basic application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the household. With the popularization of broadband services, smart home products cover various aspects. When no one is at home, you can remotely operate the smart air conditioner through a client on a mobile phone or other products to adjust the room temperature. It can even learn the user's usage habits to achieve fully automatic temperature control operation, so that users can enjoy the coolness and comfort when they return home in the hot summer. Through the client, you can switch on and off smart bulbs, adjust the brightness and color of the bulbs, etc. The built-in WiFi in the socket allows remote control of the socket to switch on and off the current at a fixed time, and even monitors the electricity usage of devices, generating electricity usage charts to make the electricity usage situation clear at a glance, arranging resource usage and budget planning. Smart weight scales monitor exercise effects. Advanced sensors built-in can monitor blood pressure and fat content, and the internal program provides health advice based on the physical state. Smart toothbrushes are connected to the client to remind users of brushing time and position, and can generate charts based on brushing data to show the health status of the oral cavity. Smart cameras, window sensors, smart doorbells, smoke detectors, smart alarms, etc. are essential security monitoring devices in the home. When you are away from home, you can view the real-time status of any corner of the house at any time and place, and any potential safety hazards. The seemingly cumbersome aspects of home life become easier and more beautiful due to the IoT [4] .
Public Safety
In recent years, global climate anomalies have occurred frequently, and the suddenness and harmfulness of disasters have further increased. The Internet can monitor environmental insecurities in real time, prevent in advance, provide real-time warnings, and take timely measures to reduce the threat of disasters to human life and property. The University at Buffalo proposed a research project on deep-sea Internet in 2013, placing specially processed sensing devices in the deep sea to analyze underwater conditions, prevent marine pollution, explore seabed resources, and even provide more reliable warnings for tsunamis. The project was successfully tested in local lakes, laying the foundation for further expansion of its application scope. Using IoT technology, it can intelligently sense various indicators and data in the atmosphere, soil, forests, water resources, etc., playing a huge role in improving human living environment [4] .
Leave a Reply