What is the Internet of Things and how it works (with examples)

The Internet of Things is any system of interconnected objectswhether it’s through the Internet or communication network. This system allows data to be transmitted between various devices and activate procedures with little or no human intervention. In English, the Internet of Things is known as IoT or Internet of Things.

An example of this system is GPS. The navigation device communicates with satellites to show you where you are, at least approximately. Depending on your location, the device will connect with one satellite or another, updating the position and route in real time.

It is thanks to the Internet of Things that various processes have been simplified and automated, both in industry and in everyday life. In fact, the idea of ​​this system is to facilitate the performance of many tasks, such as data analysis, activation of switches, adjustment of parameters, performance of cyclic and repetitive jobs, etc.

Some characteristics that define the Internet of Things are:

Fast data transmission. With proper programming, it is possible to store and send a multitude of data between multiple devices almost instantly, without anyone having to enter it manually.
Scope in communication, especially in wireless, cloud-based and Internet-based systems. Thanks to the Internet of Things system, a device can communicate with another on the other side of the planet and activate protocols or procedures according to the data it has received.
Data volume. As long as the interconnected devices have high processing capacity, the Internet of Things allows a very high amount of data to be transmitted in a short time.
Task automation. The Internet of Things allows tasks to be carried out automatically, such as collecting and transmitting data, activating switches under certain conditions or launching processes based on pre-established parameters.
Versatility. Communication between objects can be carried out with or without wires, using cables, the Internet or technologies such as Bluetooth or NFC. In addition, the Internet of Things works on objects of all kinds, from mobile phones and computers to sensors, smart watches and robots.

How the Internet of Things works

The Internet of Things requires at least two smart devices that are interconnected. By smart devices we refer to objects that transmit data or activate processes when certain parameters are met. These types of objects are also called IoT devices.

Example of industrial application using IoT devices in fluid treatment.

Let’s imagine a network of four devices connected to each other: a sensora valve opening and closing systema stirring system and a refrigeration system. These devices are part of a fluid treatment container.

The sensor, placed in the container, monitors both the temperature and the amount of substance present. When the temperature exceeds a higher threshold (e.g. 40°C), the sensor sends an alert. The refrigeration system receives this alert, and begins refrigerating the container. As soon as the lower threshold is reached (e.g. 30°C), the sensor sends another alert to shut down the system.

On the other hand, the container is filled with fluid until it reaches the height of the sensor. When this happens, the sensor sends a signal to the agitation system to stop, and another to the inlet valve to close. The outlet valve then opens, allowing the fluid to pass through.

This process continues until the outlet valve, with an integrated sensor, stops detecting the flow of fluid. In that case, the outlet valve closes and sends a signal to the inlet valve to open. The fluid enters the container and, after a few seconds, the agitation system is activated again.

In this way, an entire cycle of filling, agitation and emptying of fluid has been completed without the need for human intervention. At the same time, it has been possible to maintain the temperature within the established limits. All thanks to IoT devices!

To make these connections between smart devices, a multitude of IoT technologies can be used. Some of these technologies are Bluetooth, the cloud, WiFi networks, Ethernet, RFID, NFC, Zigbee or Z-Wave.

Examples and applications of the Internet of Things

The thermostat at home is a common example of the Internet of Things. Even if you are not connected to the Internet, The thermostat communicates with the heating or air conditioning system to activate them, depending on the temperature parameters you have established.In the precision farmingit is essential to build a good interconnected sensor system. Temperature, humidity and electrical conductivity sensors, among others, are needed. In this way, the irrigation system can be activated when the humidity sensor detects a shortage of water, for example. barcode technology It is part of an Internet of Things system. When a customer purchases products, the scanner is used to automatically inform sensors and other devices in the building what has been purchased, how much, and when. This helps prevent theft and to know when stock needs to be replenished, but there are other functionalities. Echo Dot device with Alexa It has several uses. The most common is to search on the Internet when we ask about a topic. Another common function is to play music. For example, if you have the Spotify application on your mobile or cell phone and you connect your account with Alexa, Echo Dot will play any song you select from the same mobile phone.
The mobile can communicate with other devices, whether other mobile phones, laptops, speakers or televisions. For example, it is possible to take photos on your mobile phone, and have them sent to the cloud through an application. When you get home, you can turn on your laptop or computer, open the app, and you’ll have the photos there without having to physically swipe through them.
Newer vehicles typically have multiple sensors to detect the level of gasoline, battery and coolant. They also report the distance traveled and the proximity to surrounding objects. These sensors send data to the car’s front panel or to an audio alert system, to alert the driver if changes are required or maintenance actions are required.

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