Internet of Things IoT

Internet of things, IoT, is a term describing a network of communicating with each other and people intelligent and learning devices, which through wireless networks connect to the internet and collect data real-time, to later independently make decisions.

IoT systems mainly collect, process and exchange information, and can be used in almost any application: starting from phones, cameras, movement sensors, weather stations or washing machines, finishing with vehicles, industrial machines, or even daily clothing. The extent of changes that have happened after popularizing IoT systems influenced almost every area of our lives. 

How to use IoT in the industry?

Industrial IoT applications are called Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), smart factory or connected factory. IIoT concerns solutions in industrial sectors - it is a network of connected and cooperating with  each other elements and devices from the IT sector and operational technology (OT). 

Benefits of IIoT implementation:

• Increased productivity of processes and workers; decreased costs and amount of time spent on control and analysis of machines;
• Implementation of predictive maintenance, which limits the outage’s time;
• Possibility to predict breakdowns, prevent errors and immediately reacting to problems;
• In-depth knowledge about processes in the workshop;
• Wireless control - increased safety when using machines;
• More information about clients - their needs, expectations and how they use products;
• Simplified processes of guarantee and post-guarantee services.

In agriculture IoT provides better work conditions for farmers and simplifies their tasks e.g. thanks sensors, which collect data about rain, temperature, pressure, fossil condition, and then make the most effective decisions.

Construction and architecture can use IoT for precise construction of buildings or bridges, and to predict and identify changes in the construction. 

Home automation and smart home systems use IoT to monitor and electrically and mechanically manipulate home systems. 

Internet of things in practice

Industrial devices, which can be connected with IoT include:

• Autonomous robots,
• Intelligent machines,
• Cameras and monitoring systems,
• Modules and sensors,
• Computers,
• Servers.

Data is collected by special sensors, responsible for receiving and coding impulses, and then as information transfers it for analysis. 

Among the most popular sensors used in machines are:

• Contactless sensors - indicating distance from other objects,
• Capacitive sensors - identifying various materials,
• Temperature sensors,
• Optical sensors - reacting to movement,
• Ultrasonic sensors - indicating distance,
• Pressure sensors - controlling resistance,
• Tensometric sensors - measuring weight and pressure.
• Internet of things - future of industry 4.0

Digital analytic centers

Modern buildings operate in more and more complicated systems, requiring high productivity, functionality and planning. IoT can provide faultless work of digital analytic centers, collecting data of devices and the workshop, and parameters needed for making decisions such as energy allocation. Examples of applications of such solutions are e.g. ventilation systems and parking lots, which are operated by systems controlling access to the building, and also engineering construction requiring condition check-ups.

Smart House

The term smart house means interactive houses, using intelligent systems including sensors and controllers of systems such as air conditioning, central heating, ventilation, lighting, electronics and household products or alarms. The whole system is controlled by a control center (Gateway), with which you can connect from any place in the world through a mobile app. Controlling basic functions of the house with a tablet or phone is especially useful and helpful for people with limited physical abilities.

Smart devices

Voice assistants e.g. Amazon Echo or Google Home - by using voice instructions you can acquire needed information or control other smart devices connected with the network.

Fit/smart bands - sports bands, measuring pulse, steps or monitoring sleep.

Smartwatches - watches with functionalities of phones and fit bands, able to connect with the phone, sending messages, receiving calls, controlling music, etc.

Hazards of implementing IoT systems

Technological development brings countless benefits simplifying our lives and speeding up economic social and technological improvements. Today, almost every device collects data about the user and surroundings, which created a new danger, characteristic for the XXI century world, which is stealing data and using them by third parties.

Cybersecurity and data protection sectors are constantly improving, but technological development significantly outdo the social ability to adjust to the new world. We cannot keep up with the technology development, which brings new issues with which we are not able to deal with and resolve. 

IoT systems undoubtedly simplify our lives and are an inevitable future, in which we gradually start functioning, but also bring a lot of controversial topics and discussions  about legal, political and ethical issues.

While choosing IoT technology, the most important thing is safety of our data, thus it’s crucial to make sure at our supplier what’s the level of network protection, whether we have access to technical support, updates of apps and systems and devices’ software.