Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 381
Fundamentals of Internet of Things (IoT):
Applications, Challenges, Future Trends
Prerak Gada and Kulsum Sayed Students, Diploma in Computer Science Engineering
SVKM’s Shri Bhagubhai Mafatlal Polytechnic, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India [email protected] and [email protected]
Abstract: One of the jargons in Information Technology is the Internet of Things (IoT). The future is the Internet of Things, which will transform real-world objects into intelligent objects. IoT aims to introduce plug-and-play technology providing the ultimate user, ease of operation, remote access control, and configurable. This paper presents IoT technology from a bird’s eye view covering its applications in all fields, various challenges faced, and future prospects/trends. IoT applications require higher data rates, large bandwidth, increased capacity, low latency, and high throughput.
Keywords: IoT, 5G Technology, Smart Living, Future in IoT, Sensors, Processors, Actuators, Arduino, Raspberry pi, IoT Applications.
I.INTRODUCTION
The phrase” Internet of Things,” often known as IoT, is made up of two words, the first of which is ”Internet” and the second of which is ”Things.” IoT is the extension of Internet connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects.
The Internet is a universal network of intertwined computer networks that serve billions of people across the globe using the standard internet protocol suite. It is a network of networks made up of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks spanning in size from local to worldwide and connected by a variety of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. Everyone is familiar with TVs, Remotes, Air Conditioners, Smart TVs, Car keys, etc. These are all smart devices that are connected locally, once these devices are connected to the internet they are known as IoT. IoT is a pretty simple concept: it means taking all the physical things, objects, or places and connecting them to the internet. Ambiguity may arise not because the concept is so narrow and tightly defined, but rather because it’s so broad and can be defined in numerous ways. It may be difficult to narrow down the concept when there are a lot of examples and probabilities in IoT.
II. FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF AN IOTSYSTEM The four fundamental components of an IoT system are
1. Sensors/Devices, 2. Connectivity 3. Data Processing, and 4. User Interface.
2.1 Sensors
A sensor is an input device that generates an output signal in order to detect physical phenomena. A sensor, in the broadest term, is a device, module, machine, or subsystem which detects events or changes in its surroundings and transmits the information to other electronics, most commonly a processor or a controller. Some widely used sensors are mentioned below:
Passive Infrared Sensor - Motion Detector
Temperature Sensor
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 382
Humidity Sensor
Ultrasonic Sensor - Distance Sensor
Magnetic Sensor
Touch Sensor
Gas Sensor
Vibration Sensor
Biometric Sensor
2.2 Connectivity
All the collected data from the sensors is sent to the cloud infrastructure. The sensors should be connected to the cloud using various mediums of communications. The output of the controlling may also use different connectivity. These communication mediums include the following technologies:
Wi-Fi
ZigBee
Bluetooth
Radio Frequency
Satellites
Ethernet LANs
CAN Bus
2G/3G/4G/5G Internet
LoRa - Long Range and Low Power
2.3 Data Processing
In IoT, Sensors act as Input devices and send the data to the processing unit. There are two types of processing units:
Micro Processors and Micro Controllers. These processing units manipulate the data and perform the main logic.
They are the brain of IoT. The controller is the device that takes sensor signals, processes and computes them, and then delivers command signals to the actuators. Here are some commonly used Micro Processors and Micro Controllers.
Raspberry Pi
MediaTek MT3620
Arduino UNO
Node MCU
ESP8266
8051 Intel
2.4 User Interface
These IoT Input/Output devices should be somehow accessible to the end-users. The user interface can be achieved by web apps, software, audio commands, and mobile apps. These User Interfaces are connected with the cloud which is the central hub for all the IoT components. However, it’s not always user-based communication. Depending upon the IoT application, the user should also be able to automate cascading actions. For example, lights automatically glow when motion is detected.
III. INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
Typewriters replaced paper-based writing, and printers replaced typewriters. Letter-writing technology was eventually replaced by emails and social media. Phones were replaced by mobile phones and then smartphones. Our continuous immersion in technology, specifically the Internet of Things, replaces manual labor with advanced technology and makes work more accurate and efficient.
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 383 3.1 How Does an IoT-Based Automation System Work?
A complex architecture underpins an IoT automation system, which includes remote servers outfitted with sensors.
The servers are hosted in the cloud and can manage a large number of sensors at the same time. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Z- Wave are communication protocols that IoT sensors can use. A controller, also known as a hub or gateway, is the primary device in the system. It is Ethernet-connected to the home router. This centralized gateway is used by the sensors to send and receive commands. This communication is then routed to the cloud by the gateway. This means that all of the devices are linked, and it is possible to program a desired sequence of events. This interconnection also allows for remote monitoring of IoT devices via an app.
A. Smart Homes
Smart devices are aware of our preferences, such as the music we listen to, the temperature and lighting regimes we prefer, and the times we wake up, eat, and sleep. Smart systems such as lighting, security, and switches all strive to make our lives easier. They can be controlled via application, so we don’t have to be concerned about the security of our homes even when we are not present. In a smart home, devices are connected with each other and can be accessed through one central point—a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or voice assistant. An automated home has the potential to simplify our lives. Beginning with energy management, where the power control system in appliances is managed to reduce the power consumption that is happening. This includes a door, water, and security management system. Still, these are important features of the smart home system. Anything we want to automate or make our lives easier can be a part of a smart home, as well as a smartphone system.
Figure 1: Smart Home.
Now, a smart home is usually the foundation of a smart city. The smart city is the next step in the evolution of the smart home. It is not only the sensors of a single residence that are linked here; rather, it is a correlation or a network or a connection between many organizations, domains, and multiple portions of that city. Every single dependent’s life becomes more pleasant in the smart city, which helps to build that city to higher extents as such. The crucial aspect for a smart city is government support, and if governments are prepared to take this step, we expect to see a smart city built entirely on the Internet of Things.
B. Agriculture
With the rapid growth of the world population, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the world will need to produce 70% more food in 2050. Another essential domain for IoT is agriculture, where IoT systems play a key role in soil and crop monitoring and deliver efficient alternatives. Smart farming, facilitated by IoT technologies,
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 384 assists farmers in reducing waste and improving productivity. IoT can help farmers in filling the supply-demand gap, by ensuring high yields, profitability, and protection of the environment. As the need to produce crops, adoption of internet connectivity in farming techniques can reduce manual labor, resulting in better and faster agriculture. There are several IoT technologies available that can be used in agriculture. Among them are:
Agricultural Drones - Drones can be used in agriculture for various tasks like crop health assessment, irrigation, crop monitoring, crop spraying, planting, and soil and field analysis.
Sensor for Soil Monitoring - Soil Moisture sensors can be used to automate water irrigation systems by sensing dry soil or sunny day.
Smart Water Irrigation - The supplement of water can be automated and controlled sitting at home for saving manual labor and on-field supervision.
Machines for Routine Operation - Agricultural machines could be programmed to work in a daily routine and save manpower.
IoT is the perfect and cost-effective solution to minimize human work and automate agriculture which can help increasing food production to the next level, fulfilling the requirements estimated for the future growth.
C. Traffic Monitoring
Sensors installed inside or outside a car detect lane departure and continuously monitor objects on all sides to avoid collisions. The Internet of Things (IoT) component of transportation goes beyond the vehicle to communicate with other devices, allowing for real-time decision-making to optimize travel. For example, a traffic monitoring camera identifies an accident or traffic jam and sends an alert message to the nearest traffic control room, as well as current traffic jam information to other nearby vehicles to redirect their route.
Consider a smart device, such as a traffic camera. The camera can monitor the streets for traffic congestion, accidents, and weather conditions and send this information to a central gateway. This gateway also receives data from other types of cameras and relays it to a city-wide traffic monitoring system.
Figure 2: Traffic camera monitoring streets.
Consider the Municipal Corporation’s decision to repair a specific road. This could lead to traffic jams on the way to a major highway. This information is transmitted to the city’s traffic monitoring system.
Given that this is a smart traffic system, it quickly learns and predicts traffic patterns through the use of Machine Learning. As a result, the smart system can analyze the situation, predict its impact, and relay the information to other cities that are connected to the same highway via their own smart systems. Traffic management systems can analyze recorded data and derive routes around the project to avoid bottlenecks. The system can also send live instructions to the driver via smart devices and wireless channels. In the meantime, municipal schools and workplaces near the project may also be asked to adjust their schedule. This creates a network of independent systems with real-time control. This is just one example of an IoT application.
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 385 Figure 3: Smart traffic system.
D. Healthcare
The development of healthcare specific IoT products opens up a slew of new opportunities. Furthermore, the massive volume of data created by these linked devices has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. The IoT has enabled remote monitoring in the healthcare industry, unlocking the potential to keep patients safe and healthy while also empowering physicians to provide exceptional care. As contacts with doctors have gotten easier and more efficient, it has also boosted patient participation and satisfaction. Furthermore, remote monitoring of a patient’s health helps to shorten hospital stays and prevent re-admissions. IoT also has a huge impact on lowering healthcare expenses and increasing treatment outcomes. The Internet of Things (IoT) is undeniably revolutionizing the healthcare business by redefining the area of devices and people interaction in delivering healthcare solutions. In healthcare, IoT has applications that benefit patients, families, physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies.
Figure 4: IoT in Healthcare.
IoT for Physicians: By utilizing wearables and other home monitoring technology embedded with IoT, physicians may more effectively monitor their patients’ health. They can monitor patients’ compliance with treatment regimens as well as any need for rapid medical assistance. IoT helps healthcare providers to be more vigilant and proactive in their interactions with patients. Data received from IoT devices can assist clinicians in determining the appropriate treatment method for patients and achieving the desired outcomes.
IoT for Hospitals: Aside from monitoring patients’ health, IoT devices are extremely beneficial in a variety of other areas in hospitals. Sensor-enabled IoT devices are used to track the real-time location of medical equipment such as wheelchairs, defibrillators, nebulizers, oxygen pumps, and other monitoring devices. The
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 386 deployment of medical personnel at various places can also be tracked in real-time.
IoT for Patients: Wearable gadgets such as fitness bands and other wireless connected equipment like blood pressure and heart rate monitoring cuffs, glucometers, and so on provide patients with access to individualized care. These gadgets may be programmed to remind you of calorie counts, exercise checks, appointments, blood pressure fluctuations, and a variety of other things. IoT has transformed people’s lives, particularly those of elderly patients, by allowing continuous monitoring of health issues. This has a significant influence on those who live alone and their families. When a person’s usual activities are disrupted or changed, the alarm system sends signals to family members and concerned health providers.
IV. CHALLENGES IN THE WORLD OF IOT
The Internet of Things has been implemented in many critical areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Homes, and Cities.
So, the main focus is on protecting the privacy and sustainability of IoT devices. Here are some vital areas which need to be prevented from being hampered:
4.1 Lack of Quality Check by Manufactures
New IoT devices come out almost daily, all with undiscovered vulnerabilities. When manufacturers do not spend adequate time on security checks, there can be many loopholes in the devices. For example, most of the cheap Bluetooth wearables are still visible after the first pairing, smart home appliances can expose Gmail login credentials, and some Bluetooth devices can be accessed with a Bluetooth key that has the Mac address as the device. Following are some common security risks from manufacturers:
1. Weak, guessable, or hard-coded passwords 2. Hardware issues
3. Lack of a secure update mechanism 4. Insecure data transfer and storage
4.2 User Knowledge and Awareness
The number of users and IoT devices worldwide is drastically increasing. During this period if proper knowledge, user guides, and awareness is not provided to the users then it can be a major issue. Tricking a human is, most of the time, the easiest way to gain access to a network. A type of IoT security risk that is often overlooked is social engineering attacks. Instead of targeting devices, a hacker targets a human, using the IoT.
4.3 Hardware Issues
IoT devices are being manufactured in a very huge quantity and they are not so strung to rely on forever. At the end they are some hardware components that can be damaged over time or unexpected climatic conditions. They need regular maintenance to verify their physical conditions. Many of the devices are meant to operate autonomously, these devices can be located in remote locations for long stretches of time, and they could be physically tampered, for example, using a USB flash drive with Malware.
4.4 DDoS Attacks
Internet of Things devices have been the major power behind the largest distributed denial of service DDoS botnet attacks. It’s a threat that hasn’t gone away, as many IoT device manufacturers continue to sell goods that can’t be effectively secured. DDoS attacks are becoming more widespread. Behind them are the same botnets that have plagued the world for years, created in large part of IoT devices with non-existent or weak passwords, the inability to patch susceptible firmware holes in the authentication, and data transfer infrastructure. Automated attacks on known vulnerabilities have given cyber thieves a powerful tool for quickly assembling or expanding a botnet
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 387 Figure 5: DDoS Attacks.
V. FUTURE TRENDS IN IoT
Today, more companies are realizing and using the benefits of the IoT than ever before. Machine learning, artificial intelligence, real-time feedback, and remote monitoring and operation are not just intended for the future; now they are here, and they are not slowing down. With the rapid expansion of applications and adoption of IoT, companies joining early will have a competitive advantage. Organizations that can transform and empower themselves through the benefits of IoT can create irrefutable competitive advantages. Here are some reasons the Internet of Things (IoT) will affect the future, it won’t be a fad. BI Intelligence survey expects that the adoption of IoT devices in the agriculture industry will reach 75 million in 2020, growing 20% annually. At the same time, the global smart agriculture market size is expected to triple by 2025, reaching 3 billion (compared to being slightly over 5 billion back in 2016).
Figure 6: Usage of IoT devices 5.1 5G for Superb IoT Connectivity
It’s about to revolutionize IoT capabilities, thanks to increased bandwidth and improved wireless data transmission speed and signal quality (in comparison to the preceding 4G standard). Lower latency, greater network coverage, and significantly faster data interchange between devices and/or networking hardware components are just a few of the
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-2201 388 benefits of 5G. This new telecommunications standard quickly rose to prominence as one of the most essential Internet of Things upcoming technologies in 2021/2022 and beyond.
5.2 Blockchain Technology
The growing implementation of blockchain technology is one of the latest IoT technology trends. Blockchain brings better security and data protection methods to IoT networks and devices. It ensures tamper-resistant data records, so each transaction can be surely verified to prevent disputes and security breaches in an IoT system. The idea behind using blockchain with IoT is to minimize the impact of centralized nodes or “authority” and allow more autonomy for devices, so, for example, if a centralized element gets hacked, it won’t compromise the security of the whole system.
5.3 Digital Twin Technologies
A digital twin is a virtual model that can be created with the help of IoT sensors to reflect and simulate a real object.
For this, an object being studied, usually a piece of industrial hardware (like a jet engine, wind turbine, bridge, skyscraper, etc.) gets furnished with various sensors and control devices. Those devices/sensors are used to monitor the crucial performance metrics of an object and data is sent to the IoT system software in order to create a digital twin. It can be used for running simulations, including different physical parameters, such as temperature, wind power, speed, etc.
VI. CONCLUSION
Finally, the Internet of Things refers to the concept of connecting the virtual world of information technology to the physical world of physical things. The Internet of Things uses different sensors and modules to make our lives easier and more comfortable. This paper describes IoT-Automation, Security Risks, Challenges, and Future of IoT. Internet of Things has become a popular and trending technology. By reading this paper, you will get a brief idea of what IoT is and what all things can be achieved through IoT. The paper also discusses about the automation in various industrial sectors. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a way to a smarter world with pervasive computers and networking to ease various activities around people and give new duties, such as easy monitoring of many phenomena around us. This paper is written in a very beginner-friendly manner, so that anyone can get knowledge of the foundations of IoT.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The history of all great works demonstrates that no great effort has ever been achieved without active or passive support from one’s surroundings or close quarters. As a result, it is easy to see how valuable active cooperation from seniors is. I am grateful to Mrs. Priti P. Bokhariya, our excellent faculty member, for her active guidance during the completion of the project
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