What is IoT?
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the networking of physical objects and machines with the internet. These “things” autonomously collect and transmit data without human intervention. In some cases, they can even take action independently. To enable this, the devices are equipped with tags or other wireless modules. Internet of Things literally means “Internet of Things.”
There are countless real-world examples: drilling machines, TVs, e-bikes, and refrigerators. What they have in common is the growing integration of wireless modules, which allow them to transmit data such as location to the internet. In logistics, IoT enables solutions that were previously too expensive – for instance, affordable tracking and monitoring of roll-off containers.
In addition to location data, wireless modules equipped with sensors can also transmit temperature and humidity values. Another key use case is predictive maintenance, where sensors report the condition of machines. Connectivity is achieved via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks, or low-power standards such as LoRa or Zigbee. The data is often stored and analyzed in the cloud.
Challenges of implementing IoT projects include:
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Power supply (many sensors require batteries or other energy sources)
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Data security
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Data privacy
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Standardization (devices often use different communication protocols)
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