Connected or “smart” devices —as “things” within the IoT are often called — have the power to collect and share data from their environments with other devices and networks.. An IoT ecos
Introduction
Technological advancements drive the widespread adoption of IoT, from medical devices like pill-shaped micro-cameras to smart sensors for various applications Elements and features of IoT include shallow baling, smart home devices, and more IoT development involves selecting architectures, frameworks, tools, hardware, and APIs that align with the specific requirements Additionally, identifying suitable IoT software platforms and comparing different application architectures can optimize IoT solutions.
Explore various forms of IoT functionality (P1)
Definition about IoT
Since the coining of the term in 1999, the web of things (IoT) has transformed from a mere vision to a palpable reality This can be attributed to the extensive use of the web Protocol (IP), the increase of ubiquitous computing, and the continued advancement of data analytics, among other drivers of development By 2020, it's estimated that there'll be 20.4 billion devices connected to the IoT Despite its continuing expansion, but, the IoT remains to a point an obscure concept, something that’s often mentioned in abstract terms whilst it provide manifest benefits The IoT is often described as an extension of the web and other network connections to different sensors and devices — or “things” — affording even simple objects, like lightbulbs, locks, and vents, a higher degree of computing and analytical capabilities Interoperability is one of the key aspects of the IoT that contribute to its growing popularity Connected or “smart” devices —as “things” within the IoT are often called — have the power to collect and share data from their environments with other devices and networks Through the analysis and processing of the data, devices can perform their functions with little or no need for human interaction Given the ever-increasing number of connected devices, the IoT continues its path of evolution, adding different layers to the info that's already being shared and processed, and giving rise to stylish algorithms that result in improved levels of automation And because of the variability of
“things” which will be connected thereto, the IoT has enabled diverse applications for individual users and full industries alike.
IoT work
An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they get from their environments IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device where data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed or analyzed 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 depend on the specific IoT applications deployed IoT can also make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic.
Applications of IoT
As the internet at large affects a broad spectrum of users, so does the IoT Depending on the scale of connectivity and the number of devices involved, the IoT can have significant and specific applications, be they for a single user or an entire city Common applications of the IoT include the following.
Smart Homes: One of the best and the most practical applications of IoT, smart homes really take both, convenience and home security, to the next level Though there are different levels at which IoT is applied for smart homes, the best is the one that blends intelligent utility systems and entertainment together For instance, your electricity meter with an IoT device giving you insights into your everyday water usage, your set-top box that allows you to record shows from remote, Automatic Illumination Systems, Advanced Locking Systems, and Connected Surveillance Systems all fit into this concept of smart homes As IoT evolves, we can be sure that most of the devices will become smarter, enabling enhanced home security.
Smart City: Not just internet access to people in a city but to the devices in it as well – that’s what smart cities are supposed to be made of And we can proudly say that we’re going towards realizing this dream Efforts are being made to incorporate connected technology into infrastructural requirements and some vital concerns like Traffic Management, Waste Management, Water Distribution, Electricity Management, and more All these work towards eliminating some day-to-day challenges faced by people and bring in added convenience.
Self-driving cars utilize advanced technology to enhance safety on the roads They employ sensors and embedded systems connected to the cloud and internet, generating data that is analyzed through machine learning to inform decision-making This technology harnesses the power of IoT to ensure passenger and road user safety However, the evolution and implementation of self-driving cars require further technological advancements and legal adaptations.
Farming: Farming is one sector that will benefit the most from the Internet of Things With so many developments happening on tools farmers can use for agriculture, the future is sure promising Tools are being developed for Drip Irrigation, understanding crop patterns, Water Distribution, drones for Farm Surveillance, and more These will allow farmers to come up with a more productive yield and take care of the concerns better.
IoT characteristics
There are the following characteristics of IoT as follows Let’s discuss it one by one.
Connectivity - Connectivity is an important need of the IoT infrastructure Things of IoT should be connected to the IoT infrastructure Anyone, anywhere, anytime can connect, this should be guaranteed at all times For example, a connection between people through internet devices like mobile phones, and other gadgets, and also the connection between
Internet devices such as routers, gateways, sensors, etc
Intelligence and Identity - The extraction of knowledge from the generated data is very important For example, a sensor generates data, but that data will only be useful if it is interpreted Each IoT device has a unique identity This identification helps track the equipment and at times for querying its status.
Scalability - The number of elements connected to the IoT zone is increasing day by day Hence, an IoT setup should be capable of handling the massive expansion The data generated as an outcome is enormous, and it should be handled. Dynamic and Self-Adapting (Complexity) - IoT devices should dynamically adapt themselves to the changing contexts and scenarios Assume a camera meant for the surveillance It should be adaptable to work in different conditions and different light situations (morning, afternoon, night).
IoT architecture leans towards a hybrid model that seamlessly integrates products from diverse manufacturers to foster interoperability Unlike traditional domains, IoT transcends boundaries, requiring collaboration from various engineering disciplines to fully manifest its potential.
Safety - There is a danger of the sensitive personal details of the users getting compromised when all/devices are connected to the internet This can cause a loss to the user Hence, data security is a major challenge Besides, the equipment involved is huge IoT networks may also be at the risk Thus, equipment safety is also critical
Review standard architecture, frameworks, tools, hardware and APIs available for use in IoT development (P2) (P3)
Architectures
Due to the ever-evolving nature of IoT devices, and the wide diversity of sensors, there is no one-size-fits-all architecture for IoT projects But, some of the building blocks will be similar from project to project.First, you will need to build with scalability in mind The amount of data that you will collect over time will take on enormous proportions and you will need a platform that can accommodate this in the long run.You will also need to ensure that you have high availability at any given time Having system failures could make you lose some business in the best case, or could have fatal consequences in the worst cases.Finally, you will need a system that is flexible enough to accommodate quick and frequent changes As your architecture evolves, or your business needs to change, you will need to iterate without breaking the existing architecture.
The three-layer architecture has been the dominant model for IoT applications The three layers are Perception (or Devices), Network, and Application.
The Perception layer of the architecture houses sensors responsible for collecting data from the connected device These sensors can measure various aspects of the environment, providing valuable insights Additionally, actuators, which can influence their surroundings, are also present at this layer.
The network layer plays a critical role in facilitating data transfer within an application It establishes connections between devices and routes data to the respective backend services, ensuring that the application can access and process large amounts of data seamlessly.
Application: The application layer is what the users see This could be an application to control a device in a smart-home ecosystem, or a dashboard showing the status of the devices which are part of a system.
Another way to describe an IoT solution architecture is using a four-stage approach This architecture describes the various building blocks that constitute the IoT solution In this scenario, more emphasis is put on edge computing than on the other proposed designs.
Devices: This stage is about the actual devices in the IoT solutions These devices could be sensors or actuators in the Perception layer Those devices will generate data (in the case of sensors) or act on their environment (in the case of actuators) The data produced is converted into a digital form and transmitted to the internet gateway stage Unless a critical decision must be made, the data is typically sent in a raw state to the next stage due to the limited resources of the devices themselves.
Internet gateways serve as intermediary devices that receive raw data from connected devices These gateways pre-process the data before transmitting it to cloud platforms for further processing and analysis Internet gateways can be physically connected to devices or function as standalone units that communicate with sensors via low-power networks and relay the data over the internet.
Edge or fog computing: To process data as quickly as possible, you might want to send your data to the edge of the cloud This will let you analyze the data quickly and identify if something requires immediate attention This layer typically would only be concerned with recent data that is required for time-critical operations Some pre-processing might be done at this stage, too, to limit the data that is ultimately transferred to the cloud.
Cloud or data centre: In this final stage, the data is stored for later processing The application and business layers live in this stage, where dashboards or management software can be fed through the data stored in the cloud Deep analysis or resource-intensive operations such as machine learning training will happen at this stage.
Framework
An IoT framework is a middleware layer beneath one or more IoT applications that presents a network-facing application interface through which peer framework nodes interact Frameworks often support multiple communication technologies and message passing techniques.
The IoT Framework is comprised of four major components, as discussed below:
Device Hardware: Understanding the architectural foundation of IoT devices is essential Familiarity with the operation of microcontrollers and sensors is paramount for comprehension of the hardware component in the IoT framework This knowledge enables users to grasp the hardware's role in data acquisition and processing, contributing to the effective implementation of IoT solutions.
Device Software - In order for the device software of the IoT framework to function properly, the included writing applications are required to configure the controller, then operate them remotely The user is required to have a basic understanding of how an API works inside the micro-controllers, as well how libraries are usually made for programming.
Communication and Cloud Platform - The cloud platform is one of the most crucial parts of the IoT framework It calls for the basic knowledge of all communication, whether wireless or wired The user is also required to have a good understanding of IoT integration, as well as the working of the cloud technology In summary, we can say the communication and Cloud Platform of the IoT Framework is where all communications happen.
Cloud Application - The cloud application is a type of software program, which mainly consists of components that can be accessed quite easier and faster These components can be either local or even cloud-based The cloud application works to improve the system, such that its maximum potential is realized In other words, the cloud application can be defined as the written application of an IoT framework, that binds all the local hardware devices, as well as the cloud-based devices.
Tools
The IoT phenomenon is all around us: it’s made up of the ordinary objects we use at home, at work, or in the streets; the difference is that all these objects and devices are now computerized They have network connectivity and embedded software, can interact with phones and other gadgets, receive and send information, and be controlled by a user In today's internet-driven world, IoT has engulfed the IT industry and is the latest buzzword It has opened up new horizons for companies and developers working on IoT Many special products have been developed due to the development of IoT applications Internet of Things solutions companies is creating hardware and software designs to help IoT developers create new and remarkable IoT devices and applications
Arduino - Arduino is the leading company in the IoT market that produces electronic devices and software for them Arduino hardware offerings include microcontroller boards, modules, shields and kits Hardware specifications are suitable for creating various projects, such as robotics and home automation.
Tessel 2 - To create connected devices, you can also use Tessel 2 — a programmable microcontroller supporting JavaScript, Node.js libraries and other languages It runs Linux and provides access to many NPM modules with all their capabilities Tessel 2 can be extended by external hardware (sensors, peripherals) due to a built-in module and USB ports It also provides Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a MediaTek router, 64MB of RAM and 32MB of Flash Convenient command-line tools simplify prototyping.
Hardware
IoT hardware encompasses a diverse range of devices, including routers, bridges, and sensors, that facilitate essential tasks such as system activation, security, communication, and data collection and analysis These devices not only gather data but also respond to instructions based on the processed information, supporting specific goals and actions within the IoT ecosystem.
Chips:This is much a broader classification that contains all the electrical and electronic appliances such as microcontrollers, chips, integrated circuits, radio frequency systems, etc.
Sensors: which are one of the base components of an IoT system, have three modules - Power Management modules, Sensing modules, and Energy modules.
Actuators: These devices provide the motion to a data collection system such as the solenoids, comb drives, etc to fetch details based on movements.
Standard devices : Constitute the generally used devices such as Tablets, Smartphones, Switches, Routers, etc Each of these devices has its own set of settings that allow them to collect data.
APIs
IoT APIs, designed for IoT solution development, are web service-based APIs that leverage HTTP for seamless data exchange These APIs facilitate the communication and integration of IoT devices, sensors, and platforms, enabling the efficient flow of data between various components of an IoT system.
Figure: APIs in IoT cloud APIs in IoT are highly diverse to support IoT development by all means The key API types are as mentioned next.
SOAP - SOAP APIs are crucial for IoT devices development as they make building a communication bridge between the servers and the clients The API supports only XML-based data transfer
REST APIs are essential for IoT devices to communicate with the external world They enable HTTP data transmission, ensuring seamless connectivity The architectural principles guiding these APIs include interface simplicity, allowing for quick resource identification within requests Additionally, REST APIs facilitate efficient manipulation of specific interfaces, enhancing IoT device functionality and integration with other systems.
JSON and XML - A bit older than SOAP APIs, JSON and XML IoT APIs are based on a simple approach and consume limited bandwidth.
What makes API crucial for IoT and any other device/software is the fact that they support effective use of pre-existing functions to ensure smooth software processing while keeping developers free from the need of reprogramming again and again.
Determine a specific problem to solve using IoT (P4)
Problem
Currently, waste is an important problem in every person's daily life and especially in healthcare With the current trash can, people who throw garbage have to use their hands or feet to directly contact the trash, which is unhygienic because people often do not have the habit of washing their hands Especially, during the time of the covid-19 epidemic, direct contact with many people's waste is a potential danger, the disease is transmitted through the air, so people can inhale it Another problem is that the management of trash cans is quite difficult, the janitors have to spend time emptying all the trash cans, there are bins that are full but neglected, there are bins that have little trash and do not need to be emptied Finally, medical waste should be disinfected regularly and hospitals do not do this, it increases the risk of infectious disease transmission.
Solution
To address waste management challenges, our skilled team is embarking on an innovative IoT project: the Smart Trash Can This system seamlessly detects user proximity via sound recognition (e.g., clapping) and distance measurement, triggering an automated opening mechanism that allows for convenient waste disposal Upon closing, an integrated alcohol spray system disinfects the bin's contents, ensuring hygiene Furthermore, the Blynk platform leverages Wi-Fi connectivity to provide managers with real-time insights into the trash can's status and facilitate efficient waste management operations.
Requirement
IoT product Smart Recycle Bin
Process overview Automatically open the trash can lid
Ultrasonic Sensor Us-015 Some devices: Arduino NodeMcu Lua WIFI V3 CH340, SERVO SG90 - B4H19, 2 - Module SRF05 -
B2H13, Buzz 3V - D2H7IoT protocols consideration Operates independently of local wifi network in home p p p y
Analysis overview The trash can is placed in a fixed place, when someone comes close from 2-3m, the trash lid will automatically open for 10 seconds and then close.
Distance calculation: measure the distance from an object to an open garbage can.
Network: When the distance between you and the object is short enough to allow an opening.
The data from the sensors is sent to the server After that, in order to make a decision,.
Data management: To make decisions based on distance and sensor warnings, algorithms must be used.
Device: Because of the massive scope of the project that is still being demonstrated, everything is in one room.
Data: Data management should be hidden so that no one can access it to fix anything Wifi : requires a password It must also be a strong password, so it can’t be brute force
IoT platform and tools to put into application to solve this problem
Our project is fueled by Blynk, which we found during our research The project employs the Arduino IDE as well because it is free, open-source software developed to facilitate programming and building code for the Arduino Module This official Arduino software streamlines the code compilation process.
It works on Java and is easily accessible for operating systems such as MAC, Windows, and Linux. y p g y , ,Debugging, modifying, and compiling code in the environment is easy with Platform's built-in methods and commands.
Language: We use the C++ programming language to develop software with the Arduino IDE.
Conclusion
In this essay, IoT-related concepts have been mentioned, IoT-related frameworks, tools, and apis have also been introduced, analyzed, and found advantages and disadvantages Along with that is researching available technologies to support IoT projects
A waste problem was raised and solved with an IoT project idea.