Unit 1: IoT architecture and enabling technologies
IoT and Its Applications notes · PTU syllabus (PGCA1943)
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Unit summary
The Internet of Things connects everyday objects to the internet so they can sense, communicate and act. This unit covers IoT architecture and design principles, applications, sensing and actuation, networking basics, M2M, wireless sensor networks, cloud and big data, protocols, embedded systems, IoT levels, data management, XaaS and security.
After this unit you can
- Describe IoT architecture and design principles
- Distinguish IoT and M2M; explain wireless sensor networks
- Explain the roles of cloud, big data and embedded systems
- Identify IoT levels, deployment templates and security issues
PTU syllabus topics
- Architectural overview
- design principles
- IoT applications
- sensing and actuation
- basics of networking
- M2M and IoT technology fundamentals
- wireless sensor networks
- cloud computing
- big data analytics
- communication protocols
- embedded systems
- IoT levels and templates
- data management
- XaaS
- role of cloud in IoT
- security aspects
- Application layer
Smart home, agriculture apps
- Processing layer
Cloud, analytics, storage
- Network layer
Wi-Fi, ZigBee, cellular, gateways
- Perception layer
Sensors and actuators
Topic 1
Architectural overview
- 1Perception (device) layer
Sensors and actuators
- 2Network layer
Wi-Fi, BLE, ZigBee, LoRaWAN, cellular, gateways
- 3Middleware and processing layer
Cloud or edge platforms, storage, analytics
- 4Application layer
Dashboards, apps, automation
- 5Business layer
Services and business models
- Interoperability
- Devices from different makers work together
- Scalability
- Millions of devices
- Low power
- Battery life for years
- Security and privacy by design
- From hardware up
- Edge intelligence
- Process near the device to cut latency
- Reliability
- Work despite intermittent connectivity
Topic 2
IoT applications
- Smart home
- Lights, locks, energy
- Healthcare
- Wearables, remote monitoring
- Agriculture
- Soil moisture, smart irrigation
- Industry (IIoT)
- Predictive maintenance
- Transport
- Fleet tracking, FASTag
- Smart cities
- Parking, street lights, waste bins
Topic 3
Sensing and actuation
Sensor
Converts a physical quantity into an electrical signal
Temperature (DHT11, LM35), PIR motion, LDR light, ultrasonic distance, gas (MQ-2), soil moisture
Actuator
Converts a signal into physical action
Relay, DC and servo motors, solenoid valve, buzzer, LED
- Analog sensors give continuous voltage (read via ADC); digital sensors give 0/1 or serial data.
Topic 4
Networking basics, M2M and IoT
Connectivity
Point-to-point, often cellular
IP-based networks and internet
Scope
Machines in one application
Devices, people and services across applications
Data
Stored locally
Cloud with analytics
Example
Vending machine reporting stock
Smart city platform
Topic 5
Wireless sensor networks
- WSN: many small, battery-powered sensor nodes that sense and relay data hop by hop to a sink (base station).
- Energy
- Duty cycling, sleep modes
- Topology
- Star, tree, mesh
- Routing
- Multi-hop, clustering (LEACH)
- Coverage and connectivity
- Node placement
Topic 6
Cloud, big data and embedded systems in IoT
- Cloud computing
- Scalable storage and processing; IoT platforms (AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, ThingSpeak)
- Big data analytics
- Analyse high-volume sensor streams
- Communication protocols
- MQTT, CoAP, HTTP
- Embedded systems
- Microcontrollers running firmware close to the hardware
- XaaS
- Everything as a service — sensing as a service, platform as a service
- Fog and edge computing process data near devices for low latency.
Topic 7
IoT levels and deployment templates
Level 1
Single node; local storage and analysis
Home automation with one controller
Level 2
Single node; cloud storage, local analysis
Smart irrigation
Level 3
Single node; cloud storage and analysis
Activity tracking
Level 4
Multiple nodes; cloud storage and analysis
Noise monitoring
Level 5
Multiple end nodes and a coordinator; cloud
Forest-fire WSN
Level 6
Multiple independent nodes; cloud with centralised controller
Weather monitoring network
Topic 8
Data management and security
- Ingestion
- Message brokers
- Storage
- Time-series databases (InfluxDB), NoSQL
- Processing
- Stream and batch
- Retention
- Aggregate old data
- Device
- Default passwords, insecure firmware — Mirai botnet
- Network
- Encrypt with TLS/DTLS
- Cloud
- Authentication, access control
- Privacy
- Personal data from homes and wearables (DPDP Act)
- Updates
- Secure over-the-air firmware updates
Key terms
- IoT
- Network of connected physical devices
- Actuator
- Device producing physical action
- M2M
- Direct machine-to-machine communication
- WSN
- Wireless sensor network
- Edge computing
- Processing near the data source
Quick revision
- Five-layer architecture; design principles; applications.
- Sensors vs actuators; analog vs digital.
- M2M vs IoT; WSN.
- Cloud, big data, protocols, embedded systems, XaaS.
- IoT levels 1–6; data management; security.
Important exam questions
Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).
Short-answer questions
- Q1.List the layers of IoT architecture.
- Q2.Distinguish a sensor and an actuator.
- Q3.Distinguish M2M and IoT.
- Q4.What is a WSN?
- Q5.What is IoT Level 1?
- Q6.Name two IoT security risks.
Long-answer questions
- Q1.Explain IoT architecture and design principles.
- Q2.Explain the enabling technologies of IoT.
- Q3.Explain IoT levels with examples.
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