Chapter 4: Internet of Things (IoT)

4.1. Overview of IoT

The most important features of IoT include artificial intelligence, connectivity, sensors, active
engagement, and small device use. A brief review of these features is given below −

 AI − IoT essentially makes virtually anything “smart”, meaning it enhances every aspect
of life with the power of data collection, artificial intelligence algorithms, and networks.
This can mean something as simple as enhancing your refrigerator and cabinets to detect
when milk and your favorite cereal run low, and to then place an order with your preferred
grocer.

 Connectivity − New enabling technologies for networking and specifically IoT

networking, mean networks are no longer exclusively tied to major providers. Networks
can exist on a much smaller and cheaper scale while still being practical. IoT creates these
small networks between its system devices.

 Sensors − IoT loses its distinction without sensors. They act as defining instruments that
transform IoT from a standard passive network of devices into an active system capable
of real-world integration.
  Active Engagement − Much of today's interaction with connected technology happens
through passive engagement. IoT introduces a new paradigm for active content, product,
or service engagement.

Small Devices − Devices, as predicted, have become smaller, cheaper, and more powerful over
time. IoT exploits purpose-built small devices to deliver its precision, scalability, and versatility.

4.1.1. What is IoT?

The description of the Internet of Things is related to different definitions used by several groups
for promoting the particular concept in the whole world.

 According to the Internet Architecture Board’s (IAB) definition, IoT is the networking of
smart objects, meaning a huge number of devices intelligently communicating in the
presence of internet protocol that cannot be directly operated by human beings but exist as
components in buildings, vehicles or the environment.

 According to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) organization’s definition, IoT is
the networking of smart objects in which smart objects have some constraints such as
limited bandwidth, power, and processing accessibility for achieving interoperability
among smart objects.

 According to the IEEE Communications category magazine’s definition, IoT is a

framework of all things that have a representation in the presence of the internet in such a
way that new applications and services enable the interaction in the physical and virtual
world in the form of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication in the cloud.

 According to the Oxford dictionary’s definition, IoT is the interaction of everyday

object’s computing devices through the Internet that enables the sending and receiving
of useful data.
  The term Internet of Things (IoT) according to the 2020 conceptual framework is
expressed through a simple formula such as:

IoT= Services+ Data+ Networks + Sensors

Generally, The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded
with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to
collect and exchange data. IoT is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and
digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability
to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction. IoT is a network of devices that can sense, accumulate and transfer data over the
internet without any human intervention.

Simply stated, the Internet of Things consists of any device with an on/off switch connected to the
Internet. This includes almost anything you can think of, ranging from cellphones to building
maintenance to the jet engine of an airplane. Medical devices, such as a heart monitor implant or
a biochip transponder in a farm animal, can transfer data over a network and are members of the
IoT. If it has an off/on the switch, then it can, theoretically, be part of the system. The IoT consists
of a gigantic network of internet-connected “things” and devices. Ring, a doorbell that links to
your smartphone, provides an excellent example of a recent addition to the Internet of Things.
Ring signals you when the doorbell is pressed and lets you see who it is and to speak with them.

The internet of things (IoT) has found its application in several areas such as connected industry,
smart-city, smart-home, smart-energy, connected car, smart agriculture, connected building and
campus, health care, logistics, among other domains (see Figure 4.1). IoT systems allow users to
achieve deeper automation, analysis, and integration within a system. They improve the reach of
these areas and their accuracy.
 Figure 4.1 IoT in Different Domains

IoT utilizes existing and emerging technology for sensing, networking, and robotics. IoT exploits
recent advances in software, falling hardware prices, and modern attitudes towards technology. Its
new and advanced elements bring major changes in the delivery of products, goods, and services;
and the social, economic, and political impact of those changes.

4.1.2. History of IoT

The Internet of Things has not been around for very long. However, there have been visions of
machines communicating with one another since the early 1800s. Machines have been providing
direct communications since the telegraph (the first landline) was developed in the 1830s and
1840s. Described as “wireless telegraphy,” the first radio voice transmission took place on June 3,
1900, providing another necessary component for developing the Internet of Things. The
development of computers began in the 1950s.

The Internet, itself a significant component of the IoT, started out as part of DARPA (Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency) in 1962 and evolved into ARPANET in 1969. In the 1980s,
commercial service providers began supporting public use of ARPANET, allowing it to evolve
into our modern Internet. Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) became a reality in early 1993, with
the Department of Defense providing a stable, highly functional system of 24 satellites. This was
quickly followed by privately owned, commercial satellites being placed in orbit. Satellites and
landlines provide basic communications for much of the IoT. One additional and important
component in developing a functional IoT was IPV6’s remarkably intelligent decision to increase
address space.

The Internet of Things, as a concept, wasn’t officially named until 1999. One of the first examples
of an Internet of Things is from the early 1980s and was a Coca Cola machine, located at the
Carnegie Melon University. Local programmers would connect by the Internet to the refrigerated
appliance, and check to see if there was a drink available and if it was cold, before making the trip.

By the year 2013, the Internet of Things had evolved into a system using multiple technologies,
ranging from the Internet to wireless communication and from micro-electromechanical systems
(MEMS) to embedded systems. The traditional fields of automation (including the automation of
buildings and homes), wireless sensor networks, GPS, control systems, and others, all support the
IoT.

Kevin Ashton, the Executive Director of Auto-ID Labs at MIT, was the first to describe the Internet
of Things, during his 1999 speech. Kevin Ashton stated that Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) was a prerequisite for the Internet of Things. He concluded if all devices were “tagged,”
computers could manage, track, and inventory them. To some extent, the tagging of things has
been achieved through technologies such as digital watermarking, barcodes, and QR codes.
Inventory control is one of the more obvious advantages of the Internet of Things.

4.1.3. IoT − Advantages

The advantages of IoT span across every area of lifestyle and business. Here is a list of some of
the advantages that IoT has to offer:

 Improved Customer Engagement − Current analytics suffer from blind-spots and

significant flaws inaccuracy; and as noted, engagement remains passive. IoT completely
transforms this to achieve richer and more effective engagement with audiences.
  Technology Optimization − The same technologies and data which improve the customer
experience also improve device use, and aid in more potent improvements to technology.
IoT unlocks a world of critical functional and field data.

 Reduced Waste − IoT makes areas of improvement clear. Current analytics give us
superficial insight, but IoT provides real-world information leading to the more effective
management of resources.

 Enhanced Data Collection − Modern data collection suffers from its limitations and its
design for passive use. IoT breaks it out of those spaces and places it exactly where
humans really want to go to analyze our world. It allows an accurate picture of everything.

4.1.4. IoT – Disadvantages

Here is a list of some of the disadvantages of IoT. these are:

As the number of connected devices increases and more information is shared between
devices, the potential that a hacker could steal confidential information also increases.

 If there’s a bug in the system, it’s likely that every connected device will become corrupted.

 Since there’s no international standard of compatibility for IoT, it’s difficult for devices
from different manufacturers to communicate with each other.

 Enterprises may eventually have to deal with massive numbers maybe even millions of IoT
devices and collecting and managing the data from all those devices will be challenging.
 4.1.5. Challenges of IoT
Though IoT delivers an impressive set of advantages, it also presents a significant set of
challenges. Here is a list of some its major issues:

 Security − IoT creates an ecosystem of constantly connected devices communicating over

networks. The system offers little control despite any security measures. This leaves users
exposed to various kinds of attackers.

 Privacy − The sophistication of IoT provides substantial personal data in extreme detail
without the user's active participation.

 Complexity − Some find IoT systems complicated in terms of design, deployment, and
maintenance given their use of multiple technologies and a large set of new enabling
technologies.

 Flexibility − Many are concerned about the flexibility of an IoT system to integrate easily
with another. They worry about finding themselves with several conflicting or locking
systems.

 Compliance − IoT, like any other technology in the realm of business, must comply with
regulations. Its complexity makes the issue of compliance seem incredibly challenging
when many consider standard software compliance a battle.

4.2. How does it work?

An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded processors, sensors
and communication hardware to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their
environments. IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway
or another edge device where data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed or analyzed locally.
Sometimes, these devices communicate with other related devices and act on the information they
get from one another. The devices do most of the work without human intervention, although
people can interact with the devices. For instance, to set them up, give them instructions or access
the data. The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled
devices largely depend on the specific IoT applications deployed.
4.2.1. Architecture of IoT
In general, an IoT device can be explained as a network of things that consists of hardware,
software, network connectivity, and sensors. Hence, the architecture of IoT devices comprises four
major components: sensing, network, data processing, and application layers (as depicted in Figure
4.2). A detailed description of these layers is given below.

1. Sensing Layer - The main purpose of

the sensing layer is to identify any
phenomena in the devices’ peripheral
and obtain data from the real world.
This layer consists of several sensors.
Using multiple sensors for applications
is one of the primary features of IoT
devices. Sensors in IoT devices are
usually integrated through sensor hubs.
A sensor hub is a common connection
point for multiple sensors that
accumulate and forward sensor data to
the processing unit of a device.
Actuators can also intervene to change
the physical conditions that generate Figure 4.2 Architecture of IoT
the data. An actuator might, for
example, shut off a power supply, adjust an airflow valve, or move a robotic gripper in an
assembly process. Sensors in IoT devices can be classified into three broad categories as
described below:
A. Motion Sensors: Motion sensors measure the change in motion as well as the orientation
of the devices. There are two types of motions one can observe in a device: linear and
angular motions. The linear motion refers to the linear displacement of an IoT device
while the angular motion refers to the rotational displacement of the device.
 B. Environmental Sensors: Sensors such as Light sensors, Pressure sensors, etc. are
embedded in IoT devices to sense the change in environmental parameters in the
device’s peripheral. The primary purpose of using environmental sensors in IoT devices
is to help the devices to take autonomous decisions according to the changes of a
device’s peripheral. For instance, environment sensors are used in many applications to
improve user experience (e.g., home automation systems, smart locks, smart lights, etc.).
C. Position sensors: Position sensors of IoT devices deal with the physical position and
location of the device. The most common position sensors used in IoT devices are
magnetic sensors and Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors. Magnetic sensors are
usually used as digital compass and help to fix the orientation of the device display. On
the other hand, GPS is used for navigation purposes in IoT devices.
2. Network Layer - The network layer acts as a communication channel to transfer data, collected
in the sensing layer, to other connected devices. In IoT devices, the network layer is
implemented by using diverse communication technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-
Wave, LoRa, cellular network, etc.) to allow data flow between other devices within the same
network.
3. Data Processing Layer - The data processing layer consists of the main data processing unit
of IoT devices. The data processing layer takes data collected in the sensing layer and analyses
the data to make decisions based on the result. In some IoT devices (e.g., smartwatch, smart
home hub, etc.), the data processing layer also saves the result of the previous analysis to
improve the user experience. This layer may share the result of data processing with other
connected devices via the network layer.
4. Application Layer - The application layer implements and presents the results of the data
processing layer to accomplish disparate applications of IoT devices. The application layer is a
user-centric layer that executes various tasks for the users. There exist diverse IoT applications,
which include smart transportation, smart home, personal care, healthcare, etc.
 4.2.2. Devices and Networks
Connected devices are part of a scenario in which every device talks to other related devices in an
environment to automate home and industrial tasks, and to communicate usable sensor data to
users, businesses and other interested parties. IoT devices are meant to work in concert for people
at home, in industry or in the enterprise. As such, the devices can be categorized into three main
groups: consumer, enterprise and industrial.
Consumer connected devices include smart TVs, smart speakers, toys, wearables, and smart
appliances. smart meters, commercial security systems and smart city technologies such as those
used to monitor traffic and weather conditions are examples of industrial and enterprise IoT
devices. Other technologies, including smart air conditioning, smart thermostats, smart lighting,
and smart security, span home, enterprise, and industrial uses. In the enterprise, smart sensors
located in a conference room can help an employee locate and schedule an available room for a
meeting, ensuring the proper room type, size and features are available. When meeting attendees
enter the room, the temperature will adjust according to the occupancy, and the lights will dim as
the appropriate PowerPoint loads on the screen and the speaker begins his presentation.

IoT network typically includes a number of devices with constrained resources (power, processing,
memory, among others) and some of those devices may be massively deployed over large areas
like smart cities, industrial plants, whereas others may be deployed in hard-to-reach areas like
pipelines hazardous zones, or even in hostile environments like war zones. Therefore, the efficient
management of IoT networks requires considering both the constraints of low power IoT devices
and the deployment complexity of the underlying communication infrastructure. IoT landscape is
depicted by an increasing number of connected devices characterized by their heterogeneity and
the presence of resources constrained networks. To ensure the correct functioning of those
connected devices, they must be remotely accessed to configure, monitoring their status, and so
forth. Traditional management solutions cannot be used for low power devices networks given
their resources limitation and scalability issues. Therefore, efficient and autonomic management
of IoT networks is needed. Developing an IoT network management solution is not an easy task
because of the intrinsic constraints of IoT networks (architecture, technologies, physical layer).

Indeed, it is necessary to take into account several elements such as scalability, interoperability,
energy efficiency, topology control, Quality of Service (QoS), fault tolerance, and security. The
security, context-aware, and the standard model of messages still in an early stage and should be
resolved in a new management platform. Therefore, this work proposes a platform for IoT
networks and devices management, called M4DN.IoT (Management for Device and Network in
the Internet of Things). This solution integrates and controls the individual functionalities of the
devices in an IoT network as well as the status and characteristics of this network. M4DN. IoT
defines a management structure in two scopes: local management, where the platform runs in the
same environment as the devices, and remote management, where the platform controls the
devices in different networks.

The structure of the platform is expandable, allowing the addition of new types of network devices
or applications. In addition, the platform provides standard web services, such as device discovery,
data storage, and user authorities, which are basic requirements for creating IoT applications.
 Figure 4.3 Networked IoT Devices

4.3. IoT Tools and Platforms

There are many vendors in the industrial IoT platform marketplace, offering remarkably similar
capabilities and methods of deployment. These IoT Platform Solutions are based on the Internet
of Things and cloud technology. They can be used in areas of smart home, city, enterprise, home
automation, healthcare or automotive, just to name a few.

IoT Platform Key features

 Manage an unlimited number of connected devices
 Set up cross-device interoperability
 Perform real-time device monitoring
KAA  Perform remote device provisioning and configuration
 Collect and analyze sensor data
 Analyze user behavior and deliver targeted notifications
 Create cloud services for smart products
 Run any number of IoT applications on a single SiteWhere instance
 Spring delivers the core configuration framework
 Add devices through self-registration
 Integrates with third-party integration frameworks such as Mule any
SiteWhere point
 Default database storage is MongoDB
 Eclipse Californium for CoAP messaging
 InfluxDB for event data storage
 Grafana to visualize SiteWhere data
 Collect data in private channels
 Share data with public channels
 MATLAB analytics and visualizations
ThingSpeak  Alerts
 Event scheduling
 App integrations
 Worldwide community
 Directly integrate with Alexa
 Visualization dashboard of your choice
 It supports Big data solutions such as ElasticSearch, Apache Spark,
Cassandra and Kafka for real-time and batch processing.
 Connect any device
DeviceHive
 It comes with Apache Spark and Spark Streaming support.
 Supports libraries written in various programming languages,
including Android and iOS libraries
 It allows running batch analytics and machine learning on top of your
device data
 Supports a wide range of hacker boards
Zetta  Zetta allows you to assemble smartphone apps, device apps, and cloud
apps
 Real-time data visualization and remote device control
ThingsBoard
 Customizable rules, plugins, widgets and transport implementations
  Allows monitoring client-side and provision server-side device
attributes.
 Support multi-tenant installations out-of-the-box.
 Supports transport encryption for both MQTT and HTTP(s) protocols.

 Briefly discussed are some of the IoT development tools that are listed below?
 Tessel 2  Raspbian
 Eclipse IoT  OpenSCADA
 Arduino  Node-RED
 PlatforIO  Kimono Create
 IBM Watson  Device Hive

4.4. Applications of IoT

The versatile nature of IoT makes it an attractive option for so many businesses, organizations,
and government branches, that it doesn’t make sense to ignore it. Here’s a sample of various
industries, and how IoT can be best applied.

 Agriculture - For indoor planting, IoT makes monitoring and management of micro-
climate conditions a reality, which in turn increases production. For outside planting,
devices using IoT technology can sense soil moisture and nutrients, in conjunction with
weather data, better control smart irrigation and fertilizer systems. If the sprinkler systems
dispense water only when needed, for example, this prevents wasting a precious resource.
 Consumer Use - For private citizens, IoT devices in the form of wearables and smart homes
make life easier. Wearables cover accessories such as Fitbit, smartphones, Apple watches,
health monitors, to name a few. These devices improve entertainment, network
connectivity, health, and fitness. Smart homes take care of things like activating
environmental controls so that your house is at peak comfort when you come home. Dinner
that requires either an oven or a crockpot can be started remotely, so the food is ready when
you arrive. Security is made more accessible as well, with the consumer having the ability
 to control appliances and lights remotely, as well as activating a smart lock to allow the
appropriate people to enter the house even if they don’t have a key.
 Healthcare - First and foremost, wearable IoT devices let hospitals monitor their patients’
health at home, thereby reducing hospital stays while still providing up to the minute real-
time information that could save lives. In hospitals, smart beds keep the staff informed as
to the availability, thereby cutting wait time for free space. Putting IoT sensors on critical
equipment means fewer breakdowns and increased reliability, which can mean the
difference between life and death. Elderly care becomes significantly more comfortable
with IoT. In addition to the above-mentioned real-time home monitoring, sensors can also
determine if a patient has fallen or is suffering a heart attack.
 Insurance - Even the insurance industry can benefit from the IoT revolution. Insurance
companies can offer their policyholders discounts for IoT wearables such as Fitbit. By
employing fitness tracking, the insurer can offer customized policies and encourage
healthier habits, which in the long run benefits everyone, insurer, and customer alike.
 Manufacturing - The world of manufacturing and industrial automation is another big
winner in the IoT sweepstakes. RFID and GPS technology can help a manufacturer track a
product from its start on the factory floor to its placement in the destination store, the whole
supply chain from start to finish. These sensors can gather information on travel time,
product condition, and environmental conditions that the product was subjected to. Sensors
attached to factory equipment can help identify bottlenecks in the production line, thereby
reducing lost time and waste. Other sensors mounted on those same machines can also
track the performance of the machine, predicting when the unit will require maintenance,
thereby preventing costly breakdowns.
 Retail - IoT technology has a lot to offer the world of retail. Online and in-store shopping
sales figures can control warehouse automation and robotics, information gleaned from
IoT sensors. Much of this relies on RFIDs, which are already in heavy use worldwide.
Mall locations are iffy things; business tends to fluctuate, and the advent of online
shopping has driven down the demand for brick and mortar establishments. However,
IoT can help analyze mall traffic so that stores located in malls can make the necessary
adjustments that enhance the customer’s shopping experience while reducing
overhead. Speaking of customer engagement, IoT helps retailers target customers
based on past purchases.
Equipped with the information provided through IoT, a retailer could craft a personalized
promotion for their loyal customers, thereby eliminating the need for costly mass-
marketing promotions that don’t stand as much of a chance of success. Much of these
promotions can be conducted through the customers’ smartphones, especially if they have an app
for the appropriate store.
 Transportation - By this time, most people have heard about the progress being made with
self-driving cars. But that’s just one bit of the vast potential in the field of transportation.
The GPS, which if you think of it is another example of IoT, is being utilized to help
transportation companies plot faster and more efficient routes for trucks hauling freight,
thereby speeding up delivery times. There’s already significant progress made in
navigation, once again alluding to a phone or car’s GPS. But city planners can also use that
data to help determine traffic patterns, parking space demand, and road construction and
maintenance.
 Utilities - IoT sensors can be employed to monitor environmental conditions such as
humidity, temperature, and lighting. The information provided by IoT sensors can aid in
the creation of algorithms that regulate energy usage and make the appropriate adjustments,
eliminating the human equation (and let’s face it, who of us hasn’t forgotten to switch off
lights in a room or turn down the thermostat?). With IoT-driven environmental control,
businesses and private residences can experience significant energy savings, which in the
long run, benefits everyone, including the environment! On a larger scale, data gathered by
the Internet of Things can be used to help run municipal power grids more efficiently,
analyzing factors such as usage. In addition, the sensors can help pinpoint outages faster,
thereby increasing the response time of repair crews and decreasing blackout times.

4.3.1. IoT Based Smart Home

Smart Home initiative allows subscribers to remotely manage and monitor different home devices
from anywhere via smartphones or over the web with no physical distance limitations. With the
ongoing development of mass-deployed broadband internet connectivity and wireless technology,
the concept of a Smart Home has become a reality where all devices are integrated and
interconnected via the wireless network. These “smart” devices have the potential to share
information with each other given the permanent availability to access the broadband internet
connection.

 Remote Control Appliances: Switching on and off remotely appliances to avoid accidents
and save energy.
 Weather: Displays outdoor weather conditions such as humidity, temperature, pressure,
wind speed and rain levels with the ability to transmit data over long distances.
 Smart Home Appliances: Refrigerators with LCD screen telling what’s inside, food that’s
about to expire, ingredients you need to buy and with all the information available on a
smartphone app. Washing machines allowing you to monitor the laundry remotely, and.
The kitchen ranges with the interface to a Smartphone app allowing remotely adjustable
temperature control and monitoring the oven’s self-cleaning feature.
 Safety Monitoring: cameras, and home alarm systems making people feel safe in their
daily life at home.
 Intrusion Detection Systems: Detection of window and door openings and violations to
prevent intruders.
 Energy and Water Use: Energy and water supply consumption monitoring to obtain
advice on how to save cost and resources, & many more.

4.3.2. IoT Based Smart City

In cities, the development of smart grids, data analytics, and autonomous vehicles will provide an
intelligent platform to deliver innovations in energy management, traffic management, and
security, sharing the benefits of this technology throughout society.

 Structural Health: Monitoring of vibrations and material conditions in buildings, bridges

and historical monuments.
 Lightning: intelligent and weather adaptive lighting in street lights.
Safety: Digital video monitoring, fire control management, public announcement systems.
Transportation: Smart Roads and Intelligent High-ways with warning messages and
diversions according to climate conditions and unexpected events like accidents or traffic
jams.
 Smart Parking: Real-time monitoring of parking spaces available in the city making
residents able to identify and reserve the closest available spaces,
 Waste Management: Detection of rubbish levels in containers to optimize the trash
collection routes. Garbage cans and recycle bins with RFID tags allow the sanitation staff
to see when garbage has been put out.
4.3.3. IoT Based Smart Farming

 Green Houses: Control micro-climate conditions to maximize the production of fruits and
vegetables and its quality.
 Compost: Control of humidity and temperature levels in alfalfa, hay, straw, etc. to prevent
fungus and other microbial contaminants.
 Animal Farming/Tracking: Location and identification of animals grazing in open
pastures or location in big stables, Study of ventilation and air quality in farms and
detection of harmful gases from excrements.
 Offspring Care: Control of growing conditions of the offspring in animal farms to ensure
its survival and health.
 Field Monitoring: Reducing spoilage and crop waste with better monitoring, accurate
ongoing data obtaining, and management of the agriculture fields, including better control
of fertilizing, electricity and watering.