by Mark
Ollig
“Putting IoT
to work.”
This was the
theme for the first IOTSWC (Internet of Things Solutions World Congress) event,
which took place recently in Barcelona, Spain.
Information
technology leaders shared their knowledge and solutions with industry and
businesses from around the world, during three days of conferences and
presentations.
The
spotlight was centered on the latest IoT (Internet of Things) technologies,
which were discussed in talks given by 120 speakers.
The Internet
is evolving into a massive network; in a few years’ time, it will be linked
with billions of new IoT smart devices and sensors: the “Things” making up the
Internet of Things.
In 1999,
Neil Gross summed it up best when he said, “In the next century, planet earth
will don an electronic skin. It will use the Internet as a scaffold to support
and transmit its sensations.”
Providing
these “sensations,” in my humble opinion, will be billions of IoT “gadgets,”
which are small, electronic components with a computer program, and wireless
connectivity to the Internet.
These IoT
devices/sensors have the capability for receiving and transmitting data,
monitoring and controlling an attached device, and storing information it
acquires in a data server on the Internet or “inside the cloud.”
IoT
devices/sensors have the potential to provide us with information about every
device in our home.
These
devices are being used in business, healthcare, industry, municipalities,
education, government, and other settings.
Examples of
common IoT devices include “smart outlets,” allowing remote control of
electrical devices and appliances within a home or business via an app on a
phone or computing device.
IoT
remotely-controls “smart thermostats” and lighting fixtures in a home or
business via the user’s remote commands.
There are
even IoT “smart flower pots,” with sensors monitoring the condition of the soil
and plant; they automatically water and provide nutrients to the plant per your
settings.
You can
remotely access this device (flower pot), and get reports about the plant’s
condition, soil and room temperature, remaining water and nutrient resources,
and more.
I wonder
what my grandmother (who loved her plants and garden) would have thought of
this.
Look for IoT
smart devices to be commonly built into future electronic devices, house-hold
appliances, cars, and yes, even our coffee and flower pots.
I foresee
collections of IoT devices evolving into a massive “information gathering
system-of-systems” operating over the Internet.
Of course,
what happens if (when) these IoT devices are accessible by future AI
(artificial intelligence) systems embedded within the Internet?
Do you
recall the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and hearing the HAL 9000 AI computer
saying; “I’m sorry Dave; I cannot do that.”
Once again,
I digress.
Nearly 90
technology companies participated during the IOTSWC event.
Intel, IBM,
Cisco, Microsoft, Vodafone, and Hewlett Packard, were just some of the more
recognizable companies represented at this year’s event.
Approximately
83 breakout conferences took place discussing the pros and cons of deploying
IoT technology for use by healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, business,
commercial, and industrial facilities.
An IBM video
showed the installation of over 1,000 wireless IoT sensor devices being placed
in office rooms, and onto electronic and environmental systems inside an 11
story building, thus creating a “smart building.”
These
pre-programmed IoT devices monitored each room’s temperature, lighting, and
security; they could even determine the number of people in a given area.
This smart
building’s IoT sensors also observed utility usage; such as the heating,
venting, air-conditioning, and electrical systems.
The
information being collected by was transmitted to a central database via the
Internet. The data is then analyzed in order to make informed decisions for
improving the operation of the various functions and environments inside the
building.
IoT devices
are being tested for monitoring and adjusting the processes within the machines
and tools used in assembly factories.
The IOTSWC
event showcased experimentation platforms where real-world situations using IoT
technologies were presented.
Track and
Trace was one of the featured showcases.
This
showcase demonstrated how using IoT can improve manufacturing efficiency, along
with maintaining the quality of the parts assembly operation during the
construction of a passenger plane on the factory floor.
The power
tools used in the factory were Wi-Fi enabled, and could be controlled via a
smart IoT sensor/device receiving instructions being issued from a central database.
In one
example, an IoT device, using the analytical software it accesses from the
database, precisely measures and reports on the individual amount of pressure
being exerted on each of the thousands of screws and bolts used to join
specific parts of the plane.
Every IoT
device coordinates its specific location, identity, and condition of the
machine/tool it is connected to, with the database.
These
devices receive the data needed for instructing the mechanical tools (such as
riveting guns) on the correct amount of force/torque to be used for various
rivets, and for tightening screws on a vertical stabilizer and an aircraft
window.
If a mechanical
tool does not function correctly, it could be quickly powered down in order to
prevent accidents.
Interconnection
of the power tools with the IoT devices was managed by National Instruments,
while TechMahindra was responsible for the database software application
programming.
Cisco
coordinated the location identification feature for the IoT devices.
It was hoped
the showcase presentations would fuel IoT research and development
opportunities.
According to
a March 2015 Dimensional Research global survey, 70 percent of IoT technology
and business investors said they would make better, and more meaningful
decisions by using IoT data collection.
Over 4,500
visitors from 53 countries attended this year’s IOTSWC, which is partnered with
the Industrial Internet Consortium.
Visit The
Internet of Things Solutions World Congress website at: http://tinyurl.com/bytes-iots.
