Internet of Things Tutorial
Internet of Things Tutorial
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INTERNET OF THINGS - OVERVIEW
IoT systems allow users to achieve deeper automation, analysis, and integration within a system.
They improve the reach of these areas and their accuracy. 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.
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
which 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.
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 −
IoT − Disadvantages
Though IoT delivers an impressive set of benefits, it also presents a significant set of challenges.
Here is a list of some its major issues −
IoT − Sensors
The most important hardware in IoT might be its sensors. These devices consist of energy
modules, power management modules, RF modules, and sensing modules. RF modules manage
communications through their signal processing, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, radio transceiver,
duplexer, and BAW.
The sensing module manages sensing through assorted active and passive measurement devices.
Here is a list of some of the measurement devices used in IoT −
S.No Devices
Wearable Electronics
Wearable electronic devices are small devices worn on the head, neck, arms, torso, and feet.
Smartwatches not only help us stay connected, but as a part of an IoT system, they allow access
needed for improved productivity.
Standard Devices
The desktop, tablet, and cellphone remain integral parts of IoT as the command center and
remotes.
The desktop provides the user with the highest level of control over the system and its
settings.
The tablet provides access to the key features of the system in a way resembling the
desktop, and also acts as a remote.
The cellphone allows some essential settings modification and also provides remote
functionality.
Other key connected devices include standard network devices like routers and switches.
Data Collection
This software manages sensing, measurements, light data filtering, light data security, and
aggregation of data. It uses certain protocols to aid sensors in connecting with real-time,
machine-to-machine networks. Then it collects data from multiple devices and distributes it in
accordance with settings. It also works in reverse by distributing data over devices. The system
eventually transmits all collected data to a central server.
Device Integration
Real-Time Analytics
These applications take data or input from various devices and convert it into viable actions or
clear patterns for human analysis. They analyze information based on various settings and
designs in order to perform automation-related tasks or provide the data required by industry.
These applications extend the reach of existing systems and software to allow a wider, more
effective system. They integrate predefined devices for specific purposes such as allowing
certain mobile devices or engineering instruments access. It supports improved productivity and
more accurate data collection.
RFID technology employs 2-way radio transmitter-receivers to identify and track tags
associated with objects.
NFC consists of communication protocols for electronic devices, typically a mobile
device and a standard device.
Low-Energy Bluetooth
This technology supports the low-power, long-use need of IoT function while exploiting a
standard technology with native support across systems.
Low-Energy Wireless
This technology replaces the most power hungry aspect of an IoT system. Though sensors and
other elements can power down over long periods, communication
links i.e.,wirelessi.e.,wireless must remain in listening mode. Low-energy wireless not only
reduces consumption, but also extends the life of the device through less use.
Radio Protocols
ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Thread are radio protocols for creating low-rate private area networks.
These technologies are low-power, but offer high throughput unlike many similar options. This
increases the power of small local device networks without the typical costs.
LTE-A
LTE-A, or LTE Advanced, delivers an important upgrade to LTE technology by increasing not
only its coverage, but also reducing its latency and raising its throughput. It gives IoT a
tremendous power through expanding its range, with its most significant applications being
vehicle, UAV, and similar communication.
WiFi-Direct
Applications of IoT in these areas include improving production, marketing, service delivery,
and safety. IoT provides a strong means of monitoring various processes; and real transparency
creates greater visibility for improvement opportunities.
The deep level of control afforded by IoT allows rapid and more action on those opportunities,
which include events like obvious customer needs, nonconforming product, malfunctions in
equipment, problems in the distribution network, and more.
Example
Joan runs a manufacturing facility that makes shields for manufacturing equipment. When
regulations change for the composition and function of the shields, the new appropriate
requirements are automatically programmed in production robotics, and engineers are alerted
about their approval of the changes.
Government and Safety
IoT applied to government and safety allows improved law enforcement, defense, city planning,
and economic management. The technology fills in the current gaps, corrects many current
flaws, and expands the reach of these efforts. For example, IoT can help city planners have a
clearer view of the impact of their design, and governments have a better idea of the local
economy.
Example
Joan lives in a small city. She’s heard about a recent spike in crime in her area, and worries
about coming home late at night.
Local law enforcement has been alerted about the new “hot” zone through system flags, and
they’ve increases their presence. Area monitoring devices have detected suspicious behavior,
and law enforcement has investigated these leads to prevent crimes.
In our daily lives, IoT provides a personalized experience from the home to the office to the
organizations we frequently do business with. This improves our overall satisfaction, enhances
productivity, and improves our health and safety. For example, IoT can help us customize our
office space to optimize our work.
Example
Joan works in advertising. She enters her office, and it recognizes her face. It adjusts the lighting
and temperature to her preference. It turns on her devices and opens applications to her last
working points.
Her office door detected and recognized a colleague visiting her office multiple times before she
arrived. Joan’s system opens this visitor’s messages automatically.
IoT pushes us towards our imagined future of medicine which exploits a highly integrated
network of sophisticated medical devices. Today, IoT can dramatically enhance medical
research, devices, care, and emergency care. The integration of all elements provides more
accuracy, more attention to detail, faster reactions to events, and constant improvement while
reducing the typical overhead of medical research and organizations.
Example
Joan is a nurse in an emergency room. A call has come in for a man wounded in an altercation.
The system recognized the patient and pulls his records. On the scene, paramedic equipment
captures critical information automatically sent to the receiving parties at the hospital. The
system analyzes the new data and current records to deliver a guiding solution. The status of the
patient is updated every second in the system during his transport. The system prompts Joan to
approve system actions for medicine distribution and medical equipment preparation.
IOT - MEDIA, MARKETING, & ADVERTISING
The applications of IoT in media and advertising involve a customized experience in which the
system analyzes and responds to the needs and interests of each customer. This includes their
general behavior patterns, buying habits, preferences, culture, and other characteristics.
IoT functions in a similar and deeper way to current technology, analytics, and big data.
Existing technology collects specific data to produce related metrics and patterns over time,
however, that data often lacks depth and accuracy. IoT improves this by observing more
behaviors and analyzing them differently.
This leads to more information and detail, which delivers more reliable metrics and
patterns.
It allows organizations to better analyze and respond to customer needs or preferences.
It improves business productivity and strategy, and improves the consumer experience by
only delivering relevant content and solutions.
Improved Advertising
Current advertising suffers from excess and poor targeting. Even with today's analytics, modern
advertising fails. IoT promises different and personalized advertising rather than one-size-fitsall
strategies. It transforms advertising from noise to a practical part of life because consumers
interact with advertising through IoT rather than simply receiving it. This makes advertising
more functional and useful to people searching the marketplace for solutions or wondering if
those solutions exist.
Current monitoring technology for air and water safety primarily uses manual labor along with
advanced instruments, and lab processing. IoT improves on this technology by reducing the
need for human labor, allowing frequent sampling, increasing the range of sampling and
monitoring, allowing sophisticated testing on-site, and binding response efforts to detection
systems. This allows us to prevent substantial contamination and related disasters.
Extreme Weather
Though powerful, advanced systems currently in use allow deep monitoring, they suffer from
using broad instruments, such as radar and satellites, rather than more granular solutions. Their
instruments for smaller details lack the same accurate targeting of stronger technology.
New IoT advances promise more fine-grained data, better accuracy, and flexibility. Effective
forecasting requires high detail and flexibility in range, instrument type, and deployment. This
allows early detection and early responses to prevent loss of life and property.
Commercial Farming
Today's sophisticated commercial farms have exploited advanced technology and biotechnology
for quite some time, however, IoT introduces more access to deeper automation and analysis.
Much of commercial farming, like weather monitoring, suffers from a lack of precision and
requires human labor in the area of monitoring. Its automation also remains limited.
IoT allows operations to remove much of the human intervention in system function, farming
analysis, and monitoring. Systems detect changes to crops, soil, environment, and more. They
optimize standard processes through analysis of large, rich data collections. They also prevent
health hazards e.g.,e.colie.g.,e.coli from happening and allow better control.
Much like IoT in content delivery, IoT in manufacturing allows richer insight in real-time. This
dramatically reduces the time and resources devoted to this one area, which traditionally
requires heavy market research before, during, and well after the products hit the market.
IoT also reduces the risks associated with launching new or modified products because it
provides more reliable and detailed information. The information comes directly from market
use and buyers rather than assorted sources of varied credibility.
IoT manages these areas through ensuring fine details are managed more at the system level
rather than through human evaluations and decisions. An IoT system can better assess and
control the supply chain withmostproductswithmostproducts, whether demands are high or low.
IoT offers a replacement for traditional labor and tools in a production facility and in the overall
chain which cuts many previously unavoidable costs; for example, maintenance checks or tests
traditionally requiring human labor can be performed remotely with instruments and sensors of
an IoT system.
IoT also enhances operation analytics to optimize resource use and labor, and eliminate various
types of waste, e.g., energy and materials. It analyzes the entire process from the source point to
its end, not just the process at one point in a particular facility, which allows improvement to
have a more substantial impact. It essentially reduces waste throughout the network, and returns
those savings throughout.
Product Safety
Even the most sophisticated system cannot avoid malfunctions, nonconforming product, and
other hazards finding their way to market. Sometimes these incidents have nothing to do with
the manufacturing process, and result from unknown conflicts.
Residential Energy
The rise of technology has driven energy costs up. Consumers search for ways to reduce or
control consumption. IoT offers a sophisticated way to analyze and optimize use not only at
device level, but throughout the entire system of the home. This can mean simple switching off
or dimming of lights, or changing device settings and modifying multiple home settings to
optimize energy use.
IoT can also discover problematic consumption from issues like older appliances, damaged
appliances, or faulty system components. Traditionally, finding such problems required the use
of often multiple professionals.
Commercial Energy
Energy waste can easily and quietly impact business in a major way, given the tremendous
energy needs of even small organizations. Smaller organizations wrestle with balancing costs of
business while delivering a product with typically smaller margins, and working with limited
funding and technology. Larger organizations must monitor a massive, complex ecosystem of
energy use that offers few simple, effective solutions for energy use management.
A smart-meter still requires a reader to visit the site. This automated meter reader makes visits
unnecessary, and also allows energy companies to bill based on real-time data instead of
estimates over time.
IoT simplifies the process of energy monitoring and management while maintaining a low cost
and high level of precision. It addresses all points of an organization's consumption across
devices. Its depth of analysis and control provides organizations with a strong means of
managing their consumption for cost shaving and output optimization. IoT systems discover
energy issues in the same way as functional issues in a complex business network, and provide
solutions.
Reliability
The analytics and action delivered by IoT also help to ensure system reliability. Beyond
consumption, IoT prevents system overloads or throttling. It also detects threats to system
performance and stability, which protects against losses such as downtime, damaged equipment,
and injuries.
Research
Much of current medical research relies on resources lacking critical real-world information. It
uses controlled environments, volunteers, and essentially leftovers for medical examination. IoT
opens the door to a wealth of valuable information through real-time field data, analysis, and
testing.
IoT can deliver relevant data superior to standard analytics through integrated instruments
capable of performing viable research. It also integrates into actual practice to provide more key
information. This aids in healthcare by providing more reliable and practical data, and better
leads; which yields better solutions and discovery of previously unknown issues.
It also allows researchers to avoid risks by gathering data without manufactured scenarios and
human testing.
Devices
Current devices are rapidly improving in precision, power, and availability; however, they still
offer less of these qualities than an IoT system integrating the right system effectively. IoT
unlocks the potential of existing technology, and leads us toward new and better medical device
solutions.
IoT closes gaps between equipment and the way we deliver healthcare by creating a logical
system rather than a collection of tools. It then reveals patterns and missing elements in
healthcare such as obvious necessary improvements or huge flaws.
The ClearProbe portable connected ultrasound device can use any computer anywhere as a
supporting machine. The device sends all imaging records to the master system.
Care
Perhaps the greatest improvement IoT brings to healthcare is in the actual practice of medicine
because it empowers healthcare professionals to better use their training and knowledge to solve
problems. They utilize far better data and equipment, which gives them a window into blind
spots and supports more swift, precise actions. Their decision-making is no longer limited by the
disconnects of current systems, and bad data.
IoT also improves their professional development because they actually exercise their talent
rather than spending too much time on administrative or manual tasks. Their organizational
decisions also improve because technology provides a better vantage point.
One of the challenges of medical care is the distribution of accurate and current information to
patients. Healthcare also struggles with guidance given the complexity of following guidance.
IoT devices not only improve facilities and professional practice, but also health in the daily
lives of individuals.
IoT devices give direct, 24/7 access to the patient in a less intrusive way than other options.
They take healthcare out of facilities and into the home, office, or social space. They empower
individuals in attending to their own health, and allow providers to deliver better and more
granular care to patients. This results in fewer accidents from miscommunication, improved
patient satisfaction, and better preventive care.
Emergency Care
The advanced automation and analytics of IoT allows more powerful emergency support
services, which typically suffer from their limited resources and disconnect with the base
facility. It provides a way to analyze an emergency in a more complete way from miles away. It
also gives more providers access to the patient prior to their arrival. IoT gives providers critical
information for delivering essential care on arrival. It also raises the level of care available to a
patient received by emergency professionals. This reduces the associated losses, and improves
emergency healthcare.
IoT aids in improving structure design and managing existing structures through more accurate
and complete data on buildings. It provides important engineering information such as how well
a material performs as insulation in a particular design and environment.
Buildings, even when constructed with care, can suffer from certain health and safety issues.
These issues include poor performing materials, flaws that leave the building vulnerable to
extreme weather, poor foundations, and more.
The Boss 220 smart plug allows the user to monitor, control, optimize, and automate all plug-in
devices. Users employ their mobile device or desktop to view performance information and
control devices from anywhere.
Current solutions lack the sophistication needed to detect minor issues before they become
major issues, or emergencies. IoT offers a more reliable and complete solution by observing
issues in a fine-grained way to control dangers and aid in preventing them; for example, it can
measure changes in a system's state impacting fire safety rather than simply detecting smoke.
Beyond safety or energy concerns, most people desire certain comforts from housing or
commercial spaces like specific lighting and temperature. IoT enhances these comforts by
allowing faster and easier customizing.
Adjustments also apply to the area of productivity. They personalize spaces to create an
optimized environment such as a smart office or kitchen prepared for a specific individual.
Current systems deliver sophisticated integration and performance, however, they employ older
technology and approaches to MRT. The improvements brought by IoT deliver more complete
control and monitoring. This results in better management of overall performance, maintenance
issues, maintenance, and improvements.
Mass transit options beyond standard MRT suffer from a lack of the integration necessary to
transform them from an option to a dedicated service. IoT provides an inexpensive and
advanced way to optimize performance and bring qualities of MRT to other transportation
options like buses. This improves services and service delivery in the areas of scheduling,
optimizing transport times, reliability, managing equipment issues, and responding to customer
needs.
Road
The primary concerns of traffic are managing congestion, reducing accidents, and parking. IoT
allows us to better observe and analyze the flow of traffic through devices at all traffic
observation points. It aids in parking by making storage flow transparent when current methods
offer little if any data.
This smart road sign receives data and modifications to better inform drivers and prevent
congestion or accidents.
Accidents typically result from a number of factors, however, traffic management impacts their
frequency. Construction sites, poor rerouting, and a lack of information about traffic status are
all issues that lead to incidents. IoT provides solutions in the form of better information sharing
with the public, and between various parties directly affecting road traffic.
Automobile
Many in the automotive industry envision a future for cars in which IoT technology makes cars
“smart,” attractive options equal to MRT. IoT offers few significant improvements to personal
vehicles. Most benefits come from better control over related infrastructure and the inherent
flaws in automobile transport; however, IoT does improve personal vehicles as personal spaces.
IoT brings the same improvements and customization to a vehicle as those in the home.
Commercial Transportation
Transportation benefits extend to business and manufacturing by optimizing the transport arm of
organizations. It reduces and eliminates problems related to poor fleet management through
better analytics and control such as monitoring idling, fuel consumption, travel conditions, and
travel time between points. This results in product transportation operating more like an aligned
service and less like a collection of contracted services.
Education Organizations
Education organizations typically suffer from limited funding, labor issues, and poor attention to
actual education. They, unlike other organizations, commonly lack or avoid analytics due to
their funding issues and the belief that analytics do not apply to their industry.
IoT not only provides valuable insight, but it also democratizes that information through
lowcost, low-power small devices, which still offer high performance. This technology aids in
managing costs, improving the quality of education, professional development, and facility
management improvement through rich examinations of key areas −
Data informs them about ineffective strategies and actions, whether educational efforts or
facility qualities. Removing these roadblocks makes them more effective.
Educators
Information provided by IoT empowers educators to deliver improved education. They have a
window into the success of their strategies, their students' perspective, and other aspects of their
performance. IoT relieves them of administrative and management duties, so they can focus on
their mission. It automates manual and clerical labor, and facilitates supervising through features
like system flags or controls to ensure students remain engaged.
A school in Richmond, California, embeds RFID chips in ID cards to track the presence of
students. Even if students are not present for check-in, the system will track and log their
presence on campus.
IoT provides instructors with easy access to powerful educational tools. Educators can use IoT
to perform as a one-on-one instructor providing specific instructional designs for each pupil; for
example, using data to determine the most effective supplements for each student, and
autogenerating content from lesson materials on-demand for any student.
The application of technology improves the professional development of educators because they
truly see what works, and learn to devise better strategies, rather than simply repeating old or
ineffective methods.
IoT also enhances the knowledge base used to devise education standards and practices.
Education research suffers from accuracy issues and a general lack of data. IoT introduces large
high quality, real-world datasets into the foundation of educational design. This comes from
IoT's unique ability to collect enormous amounts of varied data anywhere.
Personalized Education
IoT facilitates the customization of education to give every student access to what they need.
Each student can control their experience and participate in instructional design, and much of
this happens passively. The student simply utilizes the system, and performance data primarily
shapes their design. This combined with organizational and educator optimization delivers
highly effective education while reducing costs.
Governing bodies and engineers can use IoT to analyze the often complex aspects of city
planning and management. IoT simplifies examining various factors such as population growth,
zoning, mapping, water supply, transportation patterns, food supply, social services, and land
use. It gathers detailed data in these areas and produces more valuable and accurate information
than current analytics given its ability to actually “live” with people in a city.
Smart trashcans in New York tell garbage collectors when they need to be emptied. They
optimize trash service by ensuring drivers only make necessary stops, and drivers modify their
route to reduce fuel consumption.
In the area of management, IoT supports cities through its implementation in major services and
infrastructure such as transportation and healthcare. It also aids in other key areas like water
control, waste management, and emergency management. Its real-time and detailed information
facilitate more prompt decisions in contrast to the traditional process plagued by information
lag, which can be critical in emergency management.
Standard state services are also improved by IoT, which can automate otherwise slow processes
and trim unnecessary state expenses; for example, it can automate motor vehicle services for
testing, permits, and licensing.
IoT also aids in urban improvement by skipping tests or poor research, and providing functional
data for how the city can be optimized. This leads to faster and more meaningful changes.
Creating Jobs
IoT offers thorough economic analysis. It makes previous blind spots visible and supports better
economic monitoring and modeling. It analyzes industry and the marketplace to spot
opportunities for growth and barriers.
National Defense
National threats prove diverse and complicated. IoT augments armed forces systems and
services, and offers the sophistication necessary to manage the landscape of national defense. It
supports better protection of borders through inexpensive, high performance devices for rich
control and observation.
IoT automates the protection tasks typically spread across several departments and countless
individuals. It achieves this while improving accuracy and speed.
Policing
Law enforcement can be challenging. IoT acts as an instrument of law enforcement which
reduces manual labor and subjective decisions through better data, information sharing, and
advanced automation. IoT systems shave costs by reducing human labor in certain areas such as
certain traffic violations.
IoT aids in creating better solutions to problems by using technology in the place of force; for
example, light in-person investigations of suspicious activities can be replaced with remote
observation, logged footage of violations, and electronic ticketing. It also reduces corruption by
removing human control and opinion for some violations.
This dart planted in a truck gate prevents dangerous car chases. A patrol car launches the
tracking dart which pierces the vehicle. Then the main system receives all data needed to locate
the vehicle.
Court System
Current court systems utilize traditional technology and resources. They generally do not exploit
modern analytics or automation outside of minor legal tasks. IoT brings superior analytics,
better evidence, and optimized processes to court systems which accelerate processes, eliminate
excessive procedures, manage corruption, reduce costs, and improve satisfaction.
In the criminal court system, this can result in a more effective and fair system. In routine court
services, it introduces automation similar to that of common government office services; for
example, IoT can automate forming an LLC.
IoT combined with new regulations can remove lawyers from many common legal tasks or
reduce the need for their involvement. This reduces costs and accelerates many processes which
often require months of traversing legal procedures and bureaucracy.
Home
This smart, connected stove from Whirlpool allows two different heat settings on the same
surface, remote monitoring, and remote control.
Work
A smart office or other workspace combines customization of the work environment with smart
tools. IoT learns about you, your job, and the way you work to deliver an optimized
environment. This results in practical accommodations like adjusting the room temperature, but
also more advanced benefits like modifying your schedule and the tools you use to increase your
output and reduce your work time. IoT acts as a manager and consultant capable of seeing what
you cannot.
Play
IoT learns as much about you personally as it does professionally. This enables the technology
to support leisure −
Culture and Night Life − IoT can analyze your real-world activities and response to
guide you in finding more of the things and places you enjoy such as recommending
restaurants and events based on your preferences and experiences.
Vacations − Planning and saving for vacations proves difficult for some, and many
utilize agencies, which can be replaced by IoT.
Products and Services − IoT offers better analysis of the products you like and need than
current analytics based on its deeper access. It integrates with key information like your
finances to recommend great solutions.
It offers Vuforia for implementing augmented reality development, and Kepware for industrial
connectivity. KEPServerEX provides a single point for data distribution, and facilitates
interoperability when partnered with a ThingWorx agent.
Components
Thingworx offers several key tools for building applications. These tools include the Composer,
the Mashup Builder, storage, a search engine, collaboration, and connectivity. The Composer
provides a modeling environment for design testing. The Mashup Builder delivers easy
dashboard building through common components orwidgetsorwidgets; for example, buttons, lists,
wikis, gauges, and etc.
Thingworx uses a search engine known as SQUEAL, meaning Search, Query, and Analysis.
Users employ SQUEAL in analyzing and filtering data, and searching records.
Interface
The ThingWorx platform uses certain terms you must familiarize yourself with. In the main
screen's top menu, you search for entities or create them. “Entity” refers to something created in
ThingWorx. You can also import/export files and perform various operations on them.
In the left menu, you find entity groups, which are used to produce models and visualize data;
and manage storage, collaboration, security, and the system.
When you select the Modeling category in the menu, you begin the process by creating an
entity. The entity can be any physical device or software element, and it produces an event on
changes to its property values; for example, a sensor detects a temperature change. You can
set events to trigger actions through a subscription which makes decisions based on device
changes.
Data Shapes consist of one or more fields. They describe the data structure of custom events,
infotables, streams, and datatables. Data shapes are considered entities.
Thing Templates and Thing Shapes allow developers to avoid repeating device property
definitions in large IoT systems. Developers create Thing Templates to allow new devices to
inherit properties. They use Thing Shapes to define Templates, properties, or execute services.
Note a Thing only inherits properties, services, events, and other qualities from a single
template, however, Things and templates can inherit properties from multiple Thing Shapes.
Development
ThingWorx actually requires very little programming. Users connect devices, establish a data
source, establish device behaviors, and build an interface without any coding. It also offers
scalability appropriate for both hobbyist projects and industrial applications.
Rail transportation provides a viable example of the power of VPC. The problems VPC solves
relate to safety, mobility, efficiency, and service improvement −
Rail applications use their own purpose-built networks, and suffer from interoperability
issues; for example, trackside personnel cannot always communicate with local police
due to different technologies.
Determining if passengers need extra time to board remains a mostly manual task.
Data updates, like schedules, remain manual.
Each piece of equipment, e.g., a surveillance camera, requires its own network and power
source.
A smart MRT sign in New York
VPC improves service by introducing direct communication over a standard network, more and
automated monitoring, automatic data updates through smart signs, and native IP networks for
all devices along with PoE PoweroverEthernetPoweroverEthernet technology. This results in
passengers who feel safer, and enjoy a better quality service.
Salesforce combined with IoT delivers dramatically improved customer service with tighter
integration and responses to real-time events; for example, adjustments in wind turbines could
trigger automatic rebooking of delayed/canceled connecting flights before airline passengers
land.
Electric Imp
The Electric Imp platform is Salesforce's recommended method for quickly connecting devices
to the cloud. You develop applications through the Squirrel language; a high level, OO,
lightweight scripting language. Applications consist of two modules: the device module, which
runs on the device; and the agent module, which runs in the Electric Imp cloud. The platform
ensures secure communication between the modules, and you send devices messages with a
simple call −
agent.send("nameOfmessage", data);
device.on("nameOfmessage", function(data) {
//Data operations
});
Beyond these basic tasks, coding for device interaction, monitoring, and response resembles
standard web application development, and uses a simple, easy-to-learn syntax.
Predix was designed to target factories, and give their ecosystems the same simple and
productive function as operating systems that transformed mobile phones. It began as a tool for
General Electric's internal IoT, specifically created to monitor products sold.
Microsoft's Azure is a cloud computing platform and supporting infrastructure. It provides PaaS
and IaaS, and assorted tools for building systems. Predix, recently made available on Azure,
exploits a host of extra features like AI, advanced data visualization, and natural language
technology. Microsoft plans to eventually integrate Predix with its Azure IoT suite and Cortana
Intelligence suite, and also their well-established business applications. Azure will also allow
users to build applications using Predix data. Note AWS and Oracle also support Predix.
Developer Kits
GE offers inexpensive developer kits consisting of general components and an Intel Edison
processor module. Developers have the options of a dual core board and a Raspberry Pi board.
Developers need only provide an IP address, Ethernet connection, power supply, and light
programming to set data collection.
The kit automatically establishes the necessary connection, registers with the central Predix
system, and begins transmitting environmental data from sensors. Users subscribe to
hardware/software output, and GE Digital owns and manages the hardware and software for the
user.
This kit replaces the awkward and involved assemblies of simulations and testing environments.
In other simulations, developers typically use a large set of
software oneforeachdeviceoneforeachdevice, and specific configurations for each connection. They
also program the monitoring of each device, which can sometimes take hours. The kit reduces
much of the time spent performing these tasks from hours to only minutes.
The kit also includes software components for designing an IoT application that partners with
Predix services. GE plans to release other versions of the kit for different applications.
SmartHome is one of Eclipse IoT's major services. It aims to create a framework for building
smart home solutions, and its focus remains heterogeneous environments, meaning assorted
protocols and standards integration.
SmartHome provides uniform device and information access to facilitate interaction between
devices. It consists of OSGi bundles capable of deployment in an OSGi runtime, with OSGi
services defined as extension points.
OSGi bundles are Java class groups and other resources, which also include detailed manifest
files. The manifest contains information on file contents, services needed to enhance class
behavior, and the nature of the aggregate as a component. Review an example of a manifest
below −
Eclipse SCADA
Eclipse SCADA, another major Eclipse IoT service, delivers a means of connecting various
industrial instruments to a shared communication system. It also post-processes data and sends
data visualizations to operators. It uses a SCADA system with a communication service,
monitoring system, archive, and data visualization.
It aims to be a complete, state-of-the-art open source SCADA system for developing custom
solutions. Its supported technologies and tools include shell applications, JDBC, Modbus TCP
and RTU, Simatic S7 PLC, OPC, and SNMP.
Contiki Communication
Contiki supports standard protocols and recent enabling protocols for IoT −
Dynamic module loading and linking at run-time supports environments in which application
behavior changes after deployment. Contiki's module loader loads, relocates, and links ELF
files.
Cooja, the Contiki network simulator, spawns an actual compiled and working Contiki system
controlled by Cooja.
Using Cooja proves simple. Simply create a new mote type by selecting the Motes menu
and Add Motes → Create New Mote Type. In the dialog that appears, you choose a name for
the mote, select its firmware, and test its compilation.
After creation, add motes by clicking Create. A new mote type will appear to which you can
attach nodes. The final step requires saving your simulation file for future use.
The main challenges in security remain the security limitations associated with producing
lowcost devices, and the growing number of devices which creates more opportunities for
attacks.
Security Spectrum
The definition of a secured device spans from the most simple measures to sophisticated
designs. Security should be thought of as a spectrum of vulnerability which changes over time
as threats evolve.
Security must be assessed based on user needs and implementation. Users must recognize the
impact of security measures because poorly designed security creates more problems than it
solves.
Example − A German report revealed hackers compromised the security system of a steel mill.
They disrupted the control systems, which prevented a blast furnace from being shut down
properly, resulting in massive damage. Therefore, users must understand the impact of an attack
before deciding on appropriate protection.
Challenges
Beyond costs and the ubiquity of devices, other security issues plague IoT −
Unpredictable Behavior − The sheer volume of deployed devices and their long list of
enabling technologies means their behavior in the field can be unpredictable. A specific
system may be well designed and within administration control, but there are no
guarantees about how it will interact with others.
Device Similarity − IoT devices are fairly uniform. They utilize the same connection
technology and components. If one system or device suffers from a vulnerability, many
more have the same issue.
Problematic Deployment − One of the main goals of IoT remains to place advanced
networks and analytics where they previously could not go. Unfortunately, this creates
the problem of physically securing the devices in these strange or easily accessed places.
Long Device Life and Expired Support − One of the benefits of IoT devices is
longevity, however, that long life also means they may outlive their device support.
Compare this to traditional systems which typically have support and upgrades long after
many have stopped using them. Orphaned devices and abandonware lack the same
security hardening of other systems due to the evolution of technology over time.
No Upgrade Support − Many IoT devices, like many mobile and small devices, are not
designed to allow upgrades or any modifications. Others offer inconvenient upgrades,
which many owners ignore, or fail to notice.
Poor or No Transparency − Many IoT devices fail to provide transparency with regard
to their functionality. Users cannot observe or access their processes, and are left to
assume how devices behave. They have no control over unwanted functions or data
collection; furthermore, when a manufacturer updates the device, it may bring more
unwanted functions.
No Alerts − Another goal of IoT remains to provide its incredible functionality without
being obtrusive. This introduces the problem of user awareness. Users do not monitor the
devices or know when something goes wrong. Security breaches can persist over long
periods without detection.
People may also not be aware of the level of privacy; for example, entertainment devices may
gather A/V data, or “watch” a consumer, and share intimate information. The demand and price
for this data exacerbates the issue considering the number and diversity of parties interested in
sensitive data.
Problems specific to IoT technology lead to many of its privacy issues, which primarily stem
from the user's inability to establish and control privacy −
Consent
The traditional model for “notice and consent” within connected systems generally enforces
existing privacy protections. It allows users to interact with privacy mechanisms, and set
preferences typically through accepting an agreement or limiting actions. Many IoT devices
have no such accommodations. Users not only have no control, but they are also not afforded
any transparency regarding device activities.
Users have normal expectations for privacy in certain situations. This comes from the
commonly accepted idea of public and private spaces; for example, individuals are not surprised
by surveillance cameras in commercial spaces, however, they do not expect them in their
personal vehicle. IoT devices challenge these norms people recognize as the “right to be left
alone.” Even in public spaces, IoT creeps beyond the limits of expected privacy due to its
power.
Indistinguishable Data
IoT deploys in a wide variety of ways. Much of IoT implementation remains group targeted
rather than personal. Even if users give IoT devices consent for each action, not every system
can reasonably process every set of preferences; for example, small devices in a complex
assembly cannot honor the requests of tens of thousands of users they encounter for mere
seconds.
Granularity
Modern big data poses a substantial threat to privacy, but IoT compounds the issue with its scale
and intimacy. It goes not only where passive systems cannot, but it collects data everywhere.
This supports creation of highly detailed profiles which facilitate discrimination and expose
individuals to physical, financial, and reputation harm.
Comfort
The growth of IoT normalizes it. Users become comfortable with what they perceive as safe
technology. IoT also lacks the transparency that warns users in traditional connected systems;
consequently, many act without any consideration for the potential consequences.
Device Malfunction
IoT introduces a deeper level of automation which can have control over critical systems, and
systems impacting life and property. When these systems fail or malfunction, they can cause
substantial damage; for example, if an IoT furnace control system experiences a glitch, it may
fail in an unoccupied home and cause frozen pipes and water damage. This forces organizations
to create measures against it.
This smart thermostat allows attackers to gain remote access, and breach the rest of the
network.
Cyber Attacks
IoT devices expose an entire network and anything directly impacted to the risk of attacks.
Though those connections deliver powerful integration and productivity, they also create the
perfect opportunity for mayhem like a hacked stove or fire safety sprinkler system. The best
measures against this address the most vulnerable points, and provide custom protections such
as monitoring and access privileges.
Built-in Security − Individuals and organizations should seek hardened devices, meaning
those with security integrated in the hardware and firmware.
Encryption − This must be implemented by the manufacturer and through user systems.
Risk Analysis − Organizations and individuals must analyze possible threats in designing
their systems or choosing them.
Authorization − Devices, whenever possible, must be subject to privilege policies and
access methods.
Data Theft
Data, IoT's strength and weakness, proves irresistible to many. These individuals have a number
of reasons for their interest − the value of personal data to marketing/advertising, identity theft,
framing individuals for crimes, stalking, and a bizarre sense of satisfaction. Measures used to
fight attacks are also effective in managing this threat.