System Hardware in IoT (Internet of Things)

System hardware in IoT refers to the physical components and devices that make up an IoT
system. IoT hardware includes sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, and communication modules
that allow devices to sense, process, and transmit data. Below are the key components:
Sensors:
Sensors are crucial for gathering data from the environment. They measure physical
properties such as temperature, humidity, light, pressure, motion, etc. Examples include
temperature sensors (e.g., DHT11), motion sensors (e.g., PIR sensors), and light sensors
(e.g., LDR).
Actuators:
Actuators convert electrical signals into physical actions, such as turning on a motor,
adjusting a valve, or triggering an alarm. Actuators are often used to control devices or
systems in response to sensor data.
Microcontrollers/Microprocessors:
These are the "brains" of an IoT device. They process the sensor data, run the embedded
software, and control communication between different components. Common
microcontrollers include Arduino and ESP8266, while more powerful microprocessors
include Raspberry Pi and Intel Edison.
Communication Modules:
Communication hardware enables IoT devices to connect with each other and transmit
data over a network. This includes Wi-Fi modules (e.g., ESP8266), Bluetooth modules,
Zigbee, LoRa, and cellular modems.
Power Supply:
IoT devices require power to operate. Power can be provided through batteries, solar
panels, or connected power grids, depending on the application and the device's location.
Storage:
Some IoT devices need local storage for temporarily holding data. This could be internal
storage, flash memory, or removable SD cards.
Edge Devices:
These are intermediary devices that process data closer to where it is generated (at the
"edge" of the network). They help reduce latency and the amount of data sent to the
• Prototyping in IoT
• Prototyping in IoT involves building early-stage models or proofs-of-concept for IoT devices or systems.
The goal of prototyping is to quickly test ideas, validate designs, and identify potential issues before
finalizing the product. IoT prototyping typically includes:
• Breadboarding and Wiring:
• Breadboards are commonly used for creating temporary circuits without soldering. This allows
developers to easily connect sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers together for testing.
• Sensor and Actuator Integration:
• In this phase, sensors and actuators are connected to the microcontroller to test how the system gathers
data and reacts to inputs. This might involve reading sensor data, controlling actuators, and
programming responses.
• Software Development:
• Software is created to interface with the hardware. This includes writing code for collecting data from
sensors, processing it, and sending it to other devices or cloud services. Testing communication protocols
(e.g., MQTT, HTTP) is a critical part of this stage.
• Cloud Integration and Connectivity:
• IoT devices often need to communicate with cloud platforms for data storage, analysis, and remote
control. The backend is the part that contains the system intelligence. The backend collects the data in its database
and also makes decisions about actions. The calculation of the data is then displayed on the user interface. Without
the backend, the system is unable to do its job
• During the prototyping phase, developers will typically test cloud integration, using platforms such as
AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT, or Google Cloud IoT.
• We can divide connectivity into two parts: user-backend connectivity and device-backend connectivity.
User backend connectivity is done using internet protocols, and for device backend connectivity, there are several
options, like connectivity through 6LoWPAN, LPWAN, Bluetooth, and ZigBee.
• Iterative Testing:
• Once the prototype is built, it goes through several testing iterations to ensure that all hardware and
software components work as expected. Developers often modify the design based on the test results to
improve functionality and performance.
• SENSORS AND IT’S TYPES
• ANALOG AND DIGITAL
• SCALAR AND VECTOR
• In the context of IoT (Internet of Things), sensors are essential components that gather data from the
environment or a specific system. Sensors convert physical parameters such as temperature, light,
pressure, or motion into electrical signals that can be processed by an IoT device. The data collected by
sensors is then transmitted to a central system or cloud for analysis, monitoring, and decision-
• Sensors can be categorized based on the type of data they collect or the application they serve. Below are
some common types of sensors used in IoT systems:
• 1. Temperature Sensors
• Function: Measures ambient temperature and converts it into readable data for monitoring and control
purposes.
• Applications: HVAC systems, smart thermostats, industrial temperature monitoring, agriculture.
• Humidity Sensors
• Function: Measures the moisture content or humidity levels in the air.
• Applications: Weather monitoring, smart agriculture, HVAC control, storage systems.
• Pressure Sensors
• Function: Measures the force exerted by a gas or liquid and converts it into an electrical signal.
• Applications: Weather stations, industrial equipment monitoring, automotive systems, smart homes (e.g.,
water pressure systems).
• Light Sensors
• Function: Detects the intensity of light in the environment.
• Applications: Smart lighting systems, security systems
• Motion Sensors
• Function: Detects movement or changes in the position of an object or environment.
• Applications: Security systems,
• Gas Sensors
• Function: Detects the presence and concentration of gases in the environment.
• Applications: Environmental monitoring, industrial safety (gas leakage detection),

• Water Quality Sensors

• Function: Measures various parameters of water quality, such as pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and
electrical conductivity.
• Applications: Water management systems,