Imagine a world where your fridge tells your coffee maker how much milk is left, your car knows when to head to the mechanic, and your plants give you a text when they're thirsty -this will be the future of the world thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is a smart network of physical objects that have the ability to talk to each other without any human intervention - and let me tell you, the possibilities are endless.
It all started back in 1982 when a Coke machine at Carnegie Mellon University became the first appliance to join the Internet club. It could keep track of its own inventory and even let you know if your drink was cold. Fast forward to today, and the IoT has grown to include billions of devices, from household appliances, vehicles, and buildings, to people and even plants.
The term "IoT" was first used by British entrepreneur Kevin Ashton in 1999, and it's been taking the world by storm ever since. Thanks to advances in technology, such as microcontrollers, sensors, wireless communications, and micro-electromechanical systems, the IoT is quickly becoming the next big thing. In fact, according to the Internet Society, by 2025, there will be about 100 billion IoT devices and a global market worth over $11 trillion. The IoT is about to change our lives in a major way, just like the Internet did about two decades ago.
If you want to jump on the IoT bandwagon, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
First and foremost, every device in the IoT needs to have a unique identity. Thanks to IPv6, we can assign a whopping 2128 different addresses to each and every physical object on the planet. This means you can give each and every one of your devices a personal touch.
Next, you need to make sure your devices can communicate with each other. With modern wireless technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and NFC, you can easily connect all your devices. And if you're feeling fancy, there are other options like ZigBee, Z-Wave, and 6LoWPAN that you can use as well.
Once your devices can talk to each other, it's time to give them some senses. With sensors like temperature, humidity, light, motion, and pressure, your devices can tell you what's going on around them. And the best part is that these sensors are getting smaller, cheaper, and more durable every day.
IoT enabling technologies
Finally, you need a microcontroller or microprocessor to keep everything running smoothly. There are a lot of options out there, Arduino boards with WiFi chips, ESP8266, ARM-based microcontrollers are among the most popular microcontroller used today.
Arduino boards: The Arduino microcontroller boards are versatile and affordable platform for
developing IoT applications. Its ease of use, compatibility with a range
of programming languages, and large community of users make it a
popular choice for developers of all levels. Whether you are a beginner
or an experienced developer, the Arduino platform provides the tools and
resources to help you create powerful IoT applications. The reference[1] below provides an example of using Arduino for IoT application.
ESP8266: ESP8266 is a low-cost microcontroller board that has gained popularity
in the Internet of Things (IoT) world. It is a Wi-Fi enabled
microcontroller that provides an integrated solution for connecting
devices to the internet. The ESP8266 chip is integrated with a
microcontroller, flash memory, and Wi-Fi module, making it a
cost-effective and low-power solution for IoT applications. With its
small size, low power consumption, and high performance, the ESP8266 has
become a popular choice for developers building IoT projects. It can be
programmed using the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
and is compatible with a wide range of sensors, actuators, and modules.
The ESP8266 allows developers to easily connect their devices to the
internet and build powerful IoT solutions that can be monitored and
controlled remotely. Reference[2] shows how to use ESP8266 for IoT application.
NodeMCU: NodeMCU is an open-source development board based on the ESP8266 microcontroller, making it an ideal choice for IoT projects. It is a low-cost and versatile platform that provides a range of features for IoT devices. NodeMCU comes pre-installed with the Lua programming language, making it easy to develop and program IoT applications. The board has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing devices to communicate and transfer data over the internet. It also supports a variety of sensors and actuators, making it possible to build a range of IoT projects. In addition, the NodeMCU has a large community of developers who contribute to the project and share their experiences, which can help new users get started quickly. Whether you are an experienced developer or a beginner, NodeMCU is a great platform for building IoT projects that bring your ideas to life. Reference[3] shows how to use NodeMCU for making IoT application.
Proteus IoT builder: Proteus IoT Builder is a software platform for Internet of Things (IoT) applications that allows users to build and design IoT systems with ease. It provides a drag and drop interface for designing IoT systems and allows users to connect various sensors and devices to a central control system. The software comes equipped with a library of commonly used components, including microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators. This makes it easier for users to get started with IoT development and eliminates the need for extensive coding knowledge. With its simple interface and powerful features, Proteus IoT Builder is an ideal solution for makers, hobbyists, and small businesses who are looking to develop IoT systems quickly and easily.
IoT Cloud Services
Another technology required in IoT is the data storage and data analysis. This is enabled using cloud services and cloud technologies, that store all your IoT sensor and actuators data, analyze them and display it in a way that you can keep an eye on everything and take action right from your phone.
Big tech companies like IBM's Watson, Google's Cloud Platform, Microsoft's Azure, and Oracle's Cloud are already working on this. Arm's Mbed is also developing its own cloud, which is currently in its first release and only available to select industrial lead partners. Another easy to use platform is the Arduino IoT cloud platform. Arduino IoT Cloud is a platform that enables users to connect and control their IoT devices through the cloud. With this platform, users can easily monitor and control their devices from anywhere in the world. The platform provides a simple and user-friendly interface that allows users to connect their devices and build custom IoT applications. The platform also offers features like real-time data streaming, data logging, and data visualization, which makes it easy to collect, analyze, and act on the data generated by their devices. Additionally, Arduino IoT Cloud integrates with other popular IoT platforms, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, making it a versatile and flexible solution for IoT developers. The reference[6] demonstrates how to use Arduino IoT cloud platform.
IoT applications
Let's take a closer look at the various IoT applications that are making a big impact.
Smart Homes: Smart homes are at the forefront of the IoT revolution. With home automation, you can monitor and control all your home appliances, from heating to lighting, from the comfort of your phone. You can automate your daily routines, reduce energy consumption, and even make your home safer and more secure. And, for the elderly and disabled, smart homes can improve their quality of life, providing them with the comfort, safety, and connection they need.
Healthcare: The IoT is making healthcare more accessible and effective. Wearable technologies, such as fitness trackers, can collect health data and transmit it wirelessly to medical professionals, enabling telehealth and telemedicine. This makes it possible to diagnose and treat patients remotely, improving the overall health of the population.
Transport: The IoT is transforming the way we travel. From smart cars that can plan your route and avoid traffic to driverless cars that promise to make our journeys safer, the IoT is changing the way we get around. Public transport is also benefitting from the IoT, with connected information boards and billboards providing real-time updates and reducing costs. The logistics industry is also improving, with better visibility and fleet management leading to greater efficiency.
Energy: The IoT is making energy consumption more efficient. By integrating sensors and actuators, energy-consuming devices are becoming smarter and more energy-efficient. The IoT is also modernizing the power industry, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
Manufacturing: The IoT is changing the face of manufacturing with Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution. This revolution is driven by cyber-physical systems that integrate machines, software, sensors, and the Internet, leading to smart factories that are more efficient and produce better-quality goods.
Environment: The IoT is helping us to better protect the environment. Environmental sensors can monitor air and water quality, soil conditions, and hazardous chemicals, while tracking wildlife and improving farming practices. With the IoT, we can also predict natural disasters and detect environmental threats more quickly, leading to a safer and more sustainable planet.
In conclusion, IoT stands for Internet of Things. It is a system of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. The IoT allows for seamless communication and interaction between devices, resulting in increased efficiency and automation of various tasks and processes.The IoT will revolutionize the way we live, work and interact with the world around us. From smart homes to environmental protection, the IoT is changing our lives for the better, and there's no telling where it will take us next.
References
[1] Switch Monitoring with Arduino IoT platform
[2] WiFi controlled LED using ESP8266
[3] NodeMCU ESP8266 IoT application tutorials with examples
[4] NodeMCU Node Red Industrial Iot platform
