AI Foundations - Introduction to the IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is based on Machine to Machine (M2M) communication, where sensors and actuators talk to one another.  

Key components of an IoT system include sensors, RFID, a Wi-Fi or cellular communications link and software that interprets data and makes decisions, and actuators such as switches, relays and motors that make something physical happen.

An example IoT scenario is where sensors are put in the soil to monitor moisture levels for growing crops. When the soil gets too dry, the sensor sends a signal via an embedded computer to an actuator that triggers a sprinkler system.

Four years from now, there will be more machines talking to one another than people using smartphones, tablets and laptops, according to Cisco's annual internet forecast. Cisco projects that 14bn networked M2M devices will account for more than half of all Internet usage.[1]

Figure 17. Internet of Things (IoT) simplified

Learning Goals.

In this section you will learn how embedded computers can be programmed to control physical devices. You will learn about different electronic components and how to connect them together, program them and control them locally or over the Internet. Finally, you will understand the basics of Internet of Things and how it can be used to control and reduce consumption of electricity and improve security in your home.

Understand the Problem.

Homes typically use more electricity than they need to, and homes are also less secure than they could be. New technologies are making it possible to control our homes more in order to eliminate waste, save time and enable higher levels of security. 

Model Different Control Scenarios.

You will now learn to use electrical circuit modelling software with programs to take data from a sensor and control a device. We are going to simulate the principles of using code to control physical environments. 

The main components are:

1. A sensor – e.g., light, temperature and distance

2. An embedded computer - Arduino Uno

3. An output component – e.g., light bulb, fan or alarm.

Arduinos are used to build prototypes rather than production solutions. An embedded computer in a production environment is likely to be seamlessly integrated as a pre-programmed unit within a solution.

The circuits below connect components to the Arduino using a ‘breadboard’, whereas in a production environment – e.g. a smart home, the wiring will be integrated into the rooms and the signals may well be transmitted wirelessly. Also, In a production environment, such as a smart home, the voltages will be much higher than the 5 Volts or below that an Arduino and the components it works with.

Preparation.

Sign-up for a TinkerCAD account - https://www.tinkercad.com and ‘Join Now’.

Note – TinkerCAD allows users to create 3dDesigns and Circuits. Here, we will just use TinkerCAD Circuits.

The learning platform that you are reading from now gives you access to TinkerCAD Circuit simulations. You can access the simulations from within this interface and run the simulations by clicking here:

You can click on the sensors and see how changing the sensor’s input values changes the output.

When you’ve run the simulation, you can then click on its title:

From here, you can sign into TinkerCAD and copy, then “Tinker” with the simulation. 

Figure 24. TinkerCAD Circuits simulation