CLEAR Lab

CLEAR Lab

Internet of Things - Overview

Published:

Lesson: 1
Topic: IoT
Author: Ashley Rosilier

The Internet of Things (IoT) was a term used to describe a connected network of devices by Kevin Ashton in 1999, but it was not until more recently, 2015 to be specific, that IEEE released a formal description of this application domain [2]. According to Ashton [1], the salient feature of IoT is the ability for computers to obtain information, using sensors, for example, without the need for human intervention. This fundamental capability has the potential to radically transform the relationship between man and machine as well as the landscape of computing itself.

History of IoT

IoT has its beginnings in radio frequancy identification (RFID) systems, which use radio-frequency communications to perform tasks such as detecting store theft, automating toll booths and unlocking doors without a key. RFID technology has evolved over the last several decades, moving from lower freuqency, lower range signals (e.g. 125 kHz) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) signals that have higher data transfer rates and can be detected from up to 20 feet away. A major milestone was achievced in 2003 when technology was licensed to the Uniform Code Council to enable products in the supply chain to be tagged with Electronic Product Codes (EPC) and associated RFID tags that could be retreived via the Internet. This allowed manufcacturers and suppliers to track goods throughout production and transportation.

IoT can be described as a ubiquitous, Internet-conected network of objects containing sensors and/or actuators that can interat with minimal human intervention. The applications for this type of system have exploded, and IoT can be found in numerous domains including hospitals, manfuacturing, public transportation, municipal infrastructure, retail stores and private homes. IoT systems are highly scaleable and can consist of just a few ssnsors or a highly complex system spanning vast geographies.

As of yet, however, there is no single, encompassing standard defining IoT or how IoT systems are designed and operated. Some of the bodies currently working in this area include:

Defining Features

Since a concise, universal definition for IoT has yet to be adopted, it is useful to describe IoT in terms of defining features. This list was compiled by IEEE [2] and can be applied to both large- and small-scale systems.

  • Interconnetion of Things - The most obvious key components of an IoT system are “things”. This refers to physical objects in the real world that are relevent to the specific application.
  • Connection of Things to the Internet - The things in the systems must necessarily be connected which eachother by means of the Intranet.
  • Uniquely Identifiable Things - The objects in the network must be identifiable and distinguishable from each other.
  • Ubiquity - The objects in the system need to be avilable anytime/anywhere in context of the application (this does not necessarily mean always/global).
  • Sensing/Actuation Capability - The “things” in the network are made smart through the use of sensors and actuators.
  • Embedded Intelligence - Intelligence and knowledge functions must be programmed to control device behavior.
  • Interoprable Communication Capability - Devices are able to communicate using standard prototols.
  • Self-Configurability - Due to the vast number of potential devices and the heterogenous nature of the system, devcies need to be able to manage and update themselves.
  • Programmability - Devices have the ability to change behaviors without physical intervention.

Enabling Technologies

There are also a variety of enabling technologies that are significant in the mass-adoption and proliferation of IoT networks.

  • Tagging things - RFID: Having a simple, low-cost way of identifying everyday objects is key to IoT, and RFID has become the standard due to the much larger amount of data that can be stored versus other technologies such as simple bar codes. Another advantage for RFID is the greater range that can be accommated for detecting the ID.

  • Feeling things - sensors: Devices in an IoT system can act as virtual human sensors, such as eyes and ears, in order to determine desired behavior and can also serve as “hands” to initiate action wihtout human intervention.

  • Thinking things - smart technologies: Information processing capability of the IoT network allows the devices to become “smart” by determining desired behavior based on sensor input and feedback control.

  • Shrinking things - nanotechnologies: The ability to make devices smaller and use fewer resources directly impacts the number of applications possible for IoT systems.

The advancement of each of these areas will have a direct impact on the eveolution of the IoT domain.

References

[1] Ashton, K (2009) That “Internet of Things” Thing: In the Real World Things Matter More than Ideas. RFID Journal. http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?4986

[2] R. Minerva, A. Biru and D. Rotondi, “Towards a definition of the Internet of Things (IoT)”, IEEE Internet Initiative, vol. 1, pp. 1-86, 2015. https://iot.ieee.org/definition.html