Month: September 2018

It isn’t news that the Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing our lives – IoT is Everywhere. IoT is now portable, wearable, and implantable, creating a ubiquitous and connected universe, and transforming physical objects that surround us into an ecosystem of information that is rapidly changing the way we live. IoT technology has already changed when and where work is done, in almost every industry. Businesses are transitioning to the Internet of Everything (IoE), an unprecedented network connection that encompasses machines, individuals, processes and data that can have a huge impact in our daily lives.

Let’s explore a few significant areas that have been transformed through IoT at the intersection of people, data and intelligent machines.

Automotive

Driverless cars had previously been a figment of our imagination. However, with IoT shaking up the automotive industry like never before, digital transformation has made its way into the automotive space. By facilitating human-to-human, machine-to-machine, and human-to-machine interactions, IoT seeks to expedite processes and enrich people’s lives.

Connected vehicles are now equipped with the ability to pick up information from the surroundings, providing the driver with diagnostic information that can quickly be acted upon.

• IoT has enabled smart cars with built-in sensors that aid in efficient parking, provide data that facilitates better car maintenance, and can help drivers predict and avoid collisions.
• Connected cars send data to manufacturers in real-time, sharing insights to develop more accurate predictive maintenance models – the speed of data allows them to respond quickly to any issues found. Take the case of assisted and autonomous driving, which is changing the driver’s role from ‘driving’ to ‘supervising’ and is also better suited to increase car and road safety. The automated system, which is provided by Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is specifically designed with best-in-class technology that alerts drivers on potential problems and takes control over the vehicle to help significantly reduce collisions and road accidents.
• Far beyond relying on human memory and extensive tracking, connected cars come with the advantage of enabling quick communication between manufacturers and drivers on issues and reminders for service and maintenance.
• Telematics also has immense applications in the automotive industry. Family notification of vehicle collision, automated emergency calling and vehicle diagnostics and maintenance notifications are all classic examples.
• Connected cars are equipped with technology that can trace and record driver habits and behavior and transfer useful data to insurance companies for analysis. This makes for safer and more economical driving.
• In terms of entertainment and user experience, connected cars are an extension for providing Infotainment (information and entertainment) seamlessly, without extensive changes in the communication channels that consumers generally use. This adds a sense of personalization to the entire driving experience.

Manufacturing

As one of the earliest adopters of IoT, the manufacturing industry has been a beneficiary of IoT by embedding sensor-based technology into machines. Currently, new data processing technologies and analytical forecasting models are available to enhance the entire manufacturing value chain, from concept to completion.

• Manufacturers across the world are poised to use analytics tracked by connected devices to analyze processes and identify possibilities for optimization. The cognitive predictive maintenance system that IoT offers will employ battery-operated acoustic sensors to process the audio signals of machines and hardware in real-time. That information is then processed and transmitted to a remote evaluation unit which can identify problems regarding the condition and performance of the equipment.
• The primary purpose of a condition-based maintenance system is to predict equipment failure and enable maintenance alerts. There are many critical machine tools that are optimized to function at a certain temperature range and within stipulated vibration parameters. IoT sensors are dynamic in that they monitor machines and can send an alert when the equipment deviates from its prescribed parameters.

Cities

We live in a world governed by our smartphones, and our dependency on these devices now taken for granted. By harnessing the power of IoT, cities are evolving to become what are now called “smart cities”, through the aggregation and use of data meant to improve the lives of residents. The growing data revolution has paved the way for low-cost sensors within a securely protected system that aims to balance public safety and individual privacy.

• IoT has the potential to transform the way cities consume water. Smart meters are equipped to improve leak detection and data integrity; prevent lost revenue due to inefficiency, and boost productivity by reducing the amount of time spent entering and analyzing data. Also, these meters can be designed to feature customer-facing portals, providing residents with real-time access to information about their consumption and water supply.
• Energy-saving and sustainable practices are well within reach through IoT technology that makes it easier for buildings struggling with a legacy infrastructure. Smart building energy management systems, for instance, use IoT devices to connect disparate, nonstandard heating, cooling, lighting, and fire-safety systems to a central management application. For instance, Chicago installed a network of interactive sensors to collect real-time data on the city’s environment, infrastructure and activity for research and public use. This initiative sought to basically act as a “fitness tracker” for the city, measuring factors that affect Chicago’s livability, such as climate, air quality and noise.
• By leveraging the power of IoT technology, smart transit systems may well be in place for providing integrated transport hubs seamlessly connected through multiple modes of transportation such as bus systems, metro systems, and so on. Even the monitoring of vehicles and pedestrian levels can optimize driving and walking routes.

IoT continues to evolve and make its way across many industries, enabling a seamlessly connected world. Ness is proud to work with our clients on a diverse range of forward-looking IoT projects, across domains, to help them utilize the latest technologies and drive profitable growth.