Internet of Things - Features Of IoT Infrastructure

Under the hat of the Internet of Things, technologies and applications fall back that provide for the networking of objects and devices other than computers, which generally exchange data independently and independently of a direct command by the man.

Connected objects are generally equipped with components that fall into the following categories:

• Sensors: cameras, microphones, buttons, barcode readers, temperature, pressure, humidity, heart rate, GPS position, movement detectors, gyroscopes, compasses ...
• Actuators: mainly electric switches and hydraulic valves, also combined to realize robotic and automation systems.
• More or less autonomous computing devices : routers, NAS and other connected devices which, although similar to a PC as an operating logic, are designed to be turned on, configured once and then left to work without further intervention.

By combining these components, complex systems are created, such as home automation or automation systems, new functions and services can be added to existing devices (appliances and diagnostic devices that can be activated and monitored remotely, for example) or invent new product categories: smartphones, smart tv, smart watch, fitness tracker ...).

Internet of Things: use cases in consumer solutions
In addition to the main benefit offered to the consumer, the use of the smart device for its specific purpose, the adoption of IoT technologies can allow the manufacturer to obtain new valuable information to be exploited personally, to be transferred to the consumer as a value added after the purchase of the product, or still monetized through the provision of new services .

Some examples of these secondary benefits are:

• Obtain diagnostic information on the operation of the object to improve maintenance, preventive or after a fault has occurred;
• Obtain indications on the actual use of the functions by the consumer , to better focus research and development of new products;
• Acquire data to create market analysis , also to be sold to third parties (in accordance with the licenses of the products sold), and propose new products or services to the customer in a personalized way, based on the needs identified.

In the corporate environment, the IoT is used in numerous innovative use cases that in some cases are re-propositions of consumer technologies on a larger scale, but in other cases they are specific applications of the business sector of the company in question. Some examples of the most obvious are:

• Use of sensors on machines and in production lines to optimize industrial processes , reduce costs and waste, enable predictive maintenance and improve quality;
• Use of geographical position data of vehicle fleets in the transport of goods and people, also for the creation of new mobility services (car / bike sharing);
• Optimization of management and maintenance costs (heating / cooling, energy consumption) of large buildings, neighborhoods or entire cities ( smart cities ).
• Presence tracking in commercial spaces , for personalized and territorial marketing activities ;
• In the hospital environment, for monitoring patients' parameters ;
• Pricing based on the actual use of some services. For example, in the insurance field, for the creation of personalized policies based on the profile of actual use of vehicles or driving habits (compatibly with local laws on privacy);
• In the utility field, for remote sensing of consumption , but also to obtain more detailed information that allows a more efficient planning of resources;
• Being able to remotely manage a product / machinery , and add an additional level of after-sales service;
• Tracking and inventory of the entire product chain , from procurement of raw materials to warehouses of finished products, up to stock at the point of sale.

Features of an IoT infrastructure
In implementing IoT technologies, it provides an infrastructure that can be articulated over multiple networks and systems. Each part hides critical issues that need to be assessed to avoid security risks , network efficiency and uncontrolled growth of the data collected and consequent processing and storage costs.
Typically, an infrastructure for Internet of Things applications consists of the following parts:

• Sensors / actuators
• Connection infrastructure between sensors and data reception
• Optionally, a collector and peripheral data analyzer ( Edge Computing )
• Collection and storage of data
• Development, analysis, visualization and control