Internet of Things
< General Studies Home Page
Content
Introduction
- IoT is a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems via the internet.
- A thing in the internet of Things, can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a biochip transponder, an automobile with a built-in-sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low – or any other natural or manmade object that can be assigned an IP address and provided with the ability to transfer data over a network.
 Advantages
- Reduce waste, loss, and cost -> by early detection of problems and taking corrective steps
- We would know what things needed replacing, repairing, or recalling and whether they were fresh or past their best. This helps in increasing the reliability of a device.
Applications
- Health Care Sector: IoT can improve the reliability and performance of the life-critical system. For e.g., the IOT based devices can be used in combination with cardiact monitor to raise an alarm to the doctors in case of abnormality.
- Agriculture Sector: IoT can be used to gather live pedological data that can be used by scientists to improve the yield of the land. It can also help in implementing precision agriculture.
- Transportation Sector:
- Early detection of wear and tear (preventing accidents)
- Self-Driving Cars – will need IOT for real time decisions.
- Traffic Management – real time traffic data -> better traffic management.
- Energy Management
- Managing temperature in a Nuclear Power Plant (using sensors and IoT)
- Real time efficiency analysis of Solar Power panels.
- Research and Development:
- e.g. – Recent development of wireless communication system for satellites by NASA through which Satellites can communicate with each other.
- Safety and Security
- Real time tracking of criminals – using tagging and IoT.
Some Limitations of IoT
- High Initial cost of set up -> Since IoT is based on expensive sensors
- Increased cyber security concerns -> with increased number of devices connected to internet
- Compatibility issues -> due to lack of the international standardization on IoT devices.