IoT study material

Introduction

What is IoT? The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects or “things”
that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting
and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.

What is the purpose?

The main purpose of IoT is to create an ecosystem that connects everything. An ecosystem
where everything is connected to each other. In case of an IoT Eco-system, the entity can use a
remote (tablets, smartphones) for sending a command or request for information over an IoT
device

The device then performs the command or can even send the information back over the
network which has to be analyzed

This storing and analyzing of data can be carried out in multiple locations which include- cloud
or a local database

Technologies used

While the idea of IoT has been in existence for a long time, a collection of recent advances in a
number of different technologies has made it practical.

● Access to low-cost, low-power sensor technology. Affordable and reliable sensors are

making IoT technology possible for more manufacturers.
● Connectivity. A host of network protocols for the internet has made it easy to connect
sensors to the cloud and to other “things” for efficient data transfer.
● Cloud computing platforms. The increase in the availability of cloud platforms enables both
businesses and consumers to access the infrastructure they need to scale up without
actually having to manage it all.
● Machine learning and analytics. With advances in machine learning and analytics, along
with access to varied and vast amounts of data stored in the cloud, businesses can gather
insights faster and more easily. The emergence of these allied technologies continues to
push the boundaries of IoT and the data produced by IoT also feeds these technologies.
● Conversational artificial intelligence (AI). Advances in neural networks have brought
natural-language processing (NLP) to IoT devices (such as digital personal assistants Alexa,
Cortana, and Siri) and made them appealing, affordable, and viable for home use.

Applications in day to day life

1. Agriculture and Pest Control

Agriculture is essential for human survival and the way the population keeps multiplying, it can
be hard to maintain such large-scale agriculture without a major revolution.

Integrating IoT applications with farming can help to boost the production and keep it in line with
the population explosion happening all over the globe. IoT applications can result in precision
farming – that is, use of analytical data to understand soil moisture level, climatic changes, plant
requirement, etc, and thus boost yield as well as encourage efficient use of resources.
This method can also be used for livestock management as well. A threat that the agricultural
sector has always faced is pest infiltration. However, in one of the recent IoT use cases, a
company, Semios, makes use of sensors to track pest population. There are other IoT systems
as well which could be used to trap pests and notify authorities about it.  

2. Environment

In recent times, we are becoming more and more aware of the environment and the damage
that human activities have caused. Now, we are slowly trying to correct our mistakes and tackle
environmental issues. We can make use of IoT applications to help us with this goal.

Some of the areas where IoT are working is preservation of bees. Honey Bees are facing a
threat in this polluted world. Climate change is affecting them as well. However, by implanting
IoT devices, beekeepers can take better charge of preserving hives. Using IoT with connected
sensors, it is possible to keep track of the hive temperature, amount of food present in the hives
and also, the pollen collection. IoT can be also used in waste management also, helping us take
better care of our environment.

3. Smart Home Applications

Smart homes are probably the most common of all IoT use cases. The concept of smart homes
has revolved around the internet for a long time. When Mark Zuckerberg displayed his smart
home Jarvis, many people felt that they could actually fulfill their dream of having a Smart home.

A smart home works with the active use of IoT applications. Smart home devices collect and
share information with one another in an integrated platform and automate their actions based
on the owner’s preference. Hence, it is clear that they engage in a learning process to
understand the preferences of their owner.

There are many IoT use cases related to Smart home appliances, but one of them can be Smart
Thermostats, which monitor and control home temperatures to the comfort of the owner. Plus,
there is smart lighting as well where the lighting adjusts themselves based on the user
preference as well as external lighting.  

4. Health Care

The use of IoT in the healthcare sector can redefine healthcare as a whole. The entire
healthcare sector comprises physicians, patients, hospitals, and health insurance companies.
IoT can target and enrich each of these parties. Patients already have access to several forms
of wearables like fitness bands and blood pressure monitors to help with their health.

There are also alert mechanisms put in these devices to notify doctors or family members in the
case of emergencies. For physicians, it is quite easy to get into the history of a patient through
the IoT device and access real-time health data easily. Real-time health data can also be used
to increase the efficiency of clinical trials. IoT devices can be used inside hospitals to track
locations of medical devices like defibrillators or wheelchairs and also help with inventory
management, monitoring the environment, and temperature regulation. Since most IoT devices
collect data and store them in the cloud, health insurance companies can access this data to
track the routine activities of a patient (their lifestyle choices), whether they are adhering to their
treatment plans, or even looking into the operation processes.
5. Smart Cities

Many governments plan to build smart cities – that is – cities which heavily use IoT for several
reasons like traffic management, public transportation, parking, utility billing, etc. Smart Cities
can be referred to as large-scale IoT applications which cover a lot of problematic areas in a
city.

While costly, it can be safe to say the benefits far outweigh the cost. With the combination of
sensors, GPS data collection, and cloud platforms, it will be easy to monitor traffic conditions of
a specific area, plan construction programs by predicting their impact on traffic and find
alternative routes when necessary.

Use of smart billing for household use of energy and smart street lighting can help in the
management of energy use. Another use case of the many IoT use cases is improving public
safety by using smart cameras or smart microphones to help detect crime in any area across a
city.  

6. Safe Driving

With the increasing use of mobile phones, there has been a tragic rise in car accidents. These
accidents have been connected to distracted driving. While there have been warnings against
the use of mobile phones while driving, many drivers do not pay heed to it. However, with the
help of IoT technology, it is possible to track the mobile usage of drivers during driving and block
distracting apps.

IoT applications can also be used to understand driver behaviour and coach drivers based on
how they are driving. A recent area where IoT is being used is in the construction of driverless
cars. While it seems like something from the future, driverless cars are already in the making.
These cars use advanced sensors and gyroscopes, all of which are connected to cloud
platforms and the internet.

Using this platform, the driverless car is able to data from a variety of sources which tells them
about the traffic conditions as well as potholes, sharp turns, speed breakers and other useful
information required for driving. Driverless cars can be a perfect addition in a Smart City to
ensure smooth traffic conditions.   

7. Waste Management

We are slowly moving into a world which takes waste creation seriously. While many companies
are moving away from non-biodegradable goods, it is important to manage the waste already
being generated. IoT can bring a lot on the table to help with waste management.

One of the IoT use cases is selecting the right route for garbage trucks. IoT applications can
notify truck drivers about filled dustbins and set a route for them so that they do not have to
waste time by exploring locations with empty dustbins. IoT devices can also help in developing
Smart bins, that is, trash bins which can segregate waste into categories like plastic, metal,
glass or paper. Bin-e, a Polish company, has already generated Smart Waste Bins as one of the
many IoT use cases related to waste management. 
Applications in business

https://www.rfpage.com/applications-of-internet-of-things-iot/

What are the types of IoT?

https://www.zipitwireless.com/blog/5-types-of-wireless-iot-technology

What does it cost?

The development budget for a simple IoT app with basic features may start from $30,000. If
your app should have third-party integrations with, let's say, payment systems, or complex logic,
the development cost could be calculated starting from $50,000. For details
https://euristiq.com/cost-of-iot/

The flip side of IoT

The bad news is that cybercriminals are always on the lookout to gain unauthorised access to a
network, cloud or device. Another point to remember is that most devices and network
infrastructure was designed without taking into consideration these potential threats. This makes
infrastructure such as smart city grids, command and control centres and transportation system
easy targets.

This leads to the conclusion that IoT infrastructure needs to be strong and tamper resistant –
and despite IoT security no longer be an afterthought; it is still difficult.

Here are five reasons why:

Access to control: While traditional infrastructure was restricted to the physical environment,
current devices enable access to even a secure network if the attacker presents the right
credentials.

Automated services: Advances in network capabilities has allowed automation on a large scale.
Home devices to health wearable are constantly monitoring behavioural patterns, habits and
drawing analysis on a real-time basis. While these insights offer great automated services, they
also, unfortunately, expose critical data that can be exploited by cybercriminals.

Seamless security integration: Security-by-design is a difficult task as system architects must

anticipate and prepare for multiple potential hacks and attacks that can compromise the system.

One size doesn’t fit all: Security solutions are as diverse as the products that are on offer. While
basic protocols can lay a common foundation, such as user access controls; there is a definite
need to develop capabilities that are tailor-made for specific solutions.

Resilience: An IoT device can be compromised in two ways. Either infecting and attacking the
defined device code or functional architecture or altering its external environment such as
temperature. Despite multiple simulations, it is impossible to prevent every possible attack.

So what’s next?

Security solutions must understand the system they are aiming to protect - and adding
protection at the silicon level is one of the best ways to keep security in check!
Silicon is the foundation on which solutions are built. To ensure device protection, a smart
functioning chip is critical to isolate hardware and software layers – to prevent remote extraction
and adverse effect on hardware via malware. This secures hardware independent of the
software to prevent a complete device compromise.

Silicon is the starting point of security – it supports the layers of abstraction. While codes can be
broken, device memory is hacked, operating systems can be corrupted – data stored in silicon
is highly stable and resistant to change.

Certified implementations from third-party evaluations boost security testing and claims.
Through a strict development process, careful reviews and complete control over components
add to the effective security being offered at a silicon level. With more customers and service
providers seeking IoT protection, third-party evaluations are even more important for security
claims.

As we move towards a more connected economy, it is critical to integrate security solutions at a

foundation level to prevent system attacks and user-data protection. This will not only help
businesses prevent data leakage but also become future-proof.

The change starts now, and silicon is what this change hinges on. The onus lies on us – not
only to provide the technology but also to innovate for all.

The world as we know it has changed dramatically from the past, and continues to evolve
through technology. However, this rapid development brings a downfall of its own – Electronic
waste, coined otherwise as e-waste. IoT devices that connect trillions of devices worldwide,
range from wearables to large industrial automation systems. The convenience of these devices
has seen a boom in market consumption. This means that not only are more people using these
devices, but due to constant upgrades a significant number of devices are disposed of as well.
Take a moment to think about this, how many times have you and others in your family
upgraded phones or wearables? Even larger devices like laptops are exchanged for new ones
every now and then.

IoT promises a better future, making the world not only better but also smarter. However, the
same sensors used for waste management systems periodically become part of the waste. The
devices used to detect air pollution levels, add to the landfills every now and then. On paper this
seems like a small price to pay; the consequence however stems from the worldwide usage and
low lifetimes of these devices.

What has led to the increase in e-waste?

Mindlessness and the constant upgrades in the market foreshadow the abundance of e-waste.
And if we do not talk about it now, the consequences will be dire.

Rising number of devices

The range of ‘Smart technology’ has been made possible by the minuscule size of
microcontrollers and sensors. They range from smart watches, sensors and are now being
integrated into even clothing! By adding technology to every device, we are also surmounting a
considerable amount of potential waste. According to ASSOCHAM, the compound annual
growth rate of electronic waste is 30%. They released a study in 2018 that estimated India to
generate 5.2 million tons of e-waste by the end of 2020
Frequent replacement

Not only are there increasing number of IoT devices, the life spans of such devices have seen a
drastic reduce. Products that lasted 10-15 years when less ‘smart’, now have to be replaced
every 4-5 years. The ‘upgrades’ both in hardware and software stop supporting older devices
and force the consumer to invest in newer devices and discard the old.

Battery longevity:

Smaller devices run on battery, usually cannot be replaced once the battery dies out due to the
intricacy of placing it. It is simply discarded with no regard for consequence and another is
purchased.

Energy dispended = energy wasted:

Smart devices have the claim to fame that they save energy. But when it boils down to wastage,
energy and resources used to manufacture smart devices become obsolete and add to waste
when they are thrown away. Most obsolete devices reach the garbage dumps, rather than going
through the path of recycling.

Is there a solution to this e-waste problem?

Smart devices are here to stay and beyond question improve our quality and ease of life. So,
limiting the usage of these devices is out of the question. But what can we collectively do to
save ourselves from the impeding e-waste that this ease brings?

Invest in reducing the carbon footprint

An estimate of emission from manufacturing a typical smart phone is 16kg CO2. Including the
usage, and number of phones even each house has the emission surmounts significantly. Not
just smartphones, even sensors and microcontrollers have their own carbon footprint. Investing
in devices and manufacturers that take conscious decisions towards the environmental impact
can make a large difference.

Longer lifespans

The truth about most of the devices that end up as e-waste is that the manufacturers develop
products, and also updates that are compatible with newer devices only. So, periodically newer
products stop getting patch updates and are required to be discarded. The number of
companies that are willing to support older devices are only a handful. Allowing older devices
and selling newer updates, rather than newer devices could ensure that consumption and hence
waste is limited.

Recycling e-waste:

Recycling is truly the way of reducing e-waste to the minimum possible. We know that recycling
means to reuse. Recycling can mean to donate the devices to someone else if it is still working
and you just need an upgrade. It also means processing the e-waste to separate the reusable
metal from it. Parts that can still be used are separated and reused for manufacturing.

What does this mean for each of us in the future?

IoT, like any other good has a flip side. But in its case, the net is beneficial to the world.
Mindfulness however is a trait that every user and manufacturer must develop for long-term
 sustenance. At the end of the day we must remember the consequences of the waste we
generate. Whether it be the new phone you want, or the latest smart watch you are eyeing keep
in mind to think. Think about the waste you are generating. And if you must, turn to sustainable
recycling. There are several e-waste recycling facilities that will come and pick up the
appliances to recycle. In India, Namo e-waste and E-Parisaraa Private Limited provide services
to most areas. There are also several not for profit organisations that periodically collect e-waste
and recycle it.

Always keep in mind that a new, better future should include the interests of the world as a
whole for the long term. It must be both sustainable, and transparent. The manufacturers and
developers of IoT devices have a large responsibility in this process, but as consumers we must
ensure to let our opinions and voice be heard as well as make informed decisions in the future

What is industrial IoT?

Industrial IoT (IIoT) refers to the application of IoT technology in industrial settings, especially
with respect to instrumentation and control of sensors and devices that engage cloud
technologies. Refer to thisTitan use case PDF(sent as attachment. Can be used as an
example) for a good example of IIoT. Recently, industries have used machine-to-machine
communication (M2M) to achieve wireless automation and control. But with the emergence of
cloud and allied technologies (such as analytics and machine learning), industries can achieve a
new automation layer and with it create new revenue and business models. IIoT is sometimes
called the fourth wave of the industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. The following are some
common uses for IIoT:

● Smart manufacturing
● Connected assets and preventive and predictive maintenance
● Smart power grids
● Smart cities
● Connected logistics
● Smart digital supply chains

What industries can benefit from IoT?

Organizations best suited for IoT are those that would benefit from using sensor devices in their
business processes.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers can gain a competitive advantage by using production-line monitoring to enable

proactive maintenance on equipment when sensors detect an impending failure. Sensors can
actually measure when production output is compromised. With the help of sensor alerts,
manufacturers can quickly check equipment for accuracy or remove it from production until it is
repaired. This allows companies to reduce operating costs, get better uptime, and improve
asset performance management.

Automotive

The automotive industry stands to realize significant advantages from the use of IoT
applications. In addition to the benefits of applying IoT to production lines, sensors can detect
impending equipment failure in vehicles already on the road and can alert the driver with details
and recommendations. Thanks to aggregated information gathered by IoT-based applications,
automotive manufacturers and suppliers can learn more about how to keep cars running and
car owners informed.
Transportation and Logistics

Transportation and logistical systems benefit from a variety of IoT applications. Fleets of cars,
trucks, ships, and trains that carry inventory can be rerouted based on weather conditions,
vehicle availability, or driver availability, thanks to IoT sensor data. The inventory itself could also
be equipped with sensors for track-and-trace and temperature-control monitoring. The food and
beverage, flower, and pharmaceutical industries often carry temperature-sensitive inventory that
would benefit greatly from IoT monitoring applications that send alerts when temperatures rise
or fall to a level that threatens the product.

Retail

IoT applications allow retail companies to manage inventory, improve customer experience,
optimize supply chain, and reduce operational costs. For example, smart shelves fitted with
weight sensors can collect RFID-based information and send the data to the IoT platform to
automatically monitor inventory and trigger alerts if items are running low. Beacons can push
targeted offers and promotions to customers to provide an engaging experience.

Public Sector

The benefits of IoT in the public sector and other service-related environments are similarly
wide-ranging. For example, government-owned utilities can use IoT-based applications to notify
their users of mass outages and even of smaller interruptions of water, power, or sewer
services. IoT applications can collect data concerning the scope of an outage and deploy
resources to help utilities recover from outages with greater speed.

Healthcare

IoT asset monitoring provides multiple benefits to the healthcare industry. Doctors, nurses, and
orderlies often need to know the exact location of patient-assistance assets such as
wheelchairs. When a hospital’s wheelchairs are equipped with IoT sensors, they can be tracked
from the IoT asset-monitoring application so that anyone looking for one can quickly find the
nearest available wheelchair. Many hospital assets can be tracked this way to ensure proper
usage as well as financial accounting for the physical assets in each department.

General Safety Across All Industries

In addition to tracking physical assets, IoT can be used to improve worker safety. Employees in
hazardous environments such as mines, oil and gas fields, and chemical and power plants, for
example, need to know about the occurrence of a hazardous event that might affect them.
When they are connected to IoT sensor–based applications, they can be notified of accidents or
rescued from them as swiftly as possible. IoT applications are also used for wearables that can
monitor human health and environmental conditions. Not only do these types of applications
help people better understand their own health, they also permit physicians to monitor patients
remotely.

References:

https://www.oracle.com/in/internet-of-things/what-is-iot/

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/230419/the-dark-side-of-iot.html

https://iot4beginners.com/e-waste-the-flip-side-to-iot/