IoT
Definition
Internet of Things - network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that collect, exchange, and act on data.
Use Cases
- Rolls-Royce: Aircraft engine health monitoring and predictive maintenance — Engines stream operational telemetry from onboard sensors to ground systems, where analytics models detect anomalies and predict maintenance needs; insights are used to schedule service and reduce unplanned downtime. (Improved maintenance planning and reliability by shifting from reactive repairs to condition-based maintenance, reducing disruptions and optimizing service intervals.)
- John Deere: Precision agriculture and fleet monitoring for farm equipment — Connected tractors and implements collect machine and field data (e.g., location, performance metrics) and transmit it to cloud-connected platforms for monitoring, optimization, and decision support. (Better operational visibility and data-driven farming decisions, helping improve productivity and reduce waste (fuel, time, inputs) through optimized operations.)
- City of Los Angeles (LA DOT): Smart traffic signal control and congestion reduction — Connected traffic signals and sensors provide real-time traffic data to centralized systems that adjust signal timing and coordinate corridors to improve flow. (More responsive traffic management and improved travel-time reliability by adapting signal timing to real conditions rather than fixed schedules.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: AWS IoT Core
- Azure: Azure IoT Hub
- GCP: Google Cloud IoT Core (retired)
- OCI: OCI Streaming (often used with IoT gateways) / OCI IoT is not a direct flagship equivalent
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between IoT and M2M (machine-to-machine)?
- M2M usually means devices communicating directly with each other (often over cellular or private networks) for a specific purpose, like a vending machine reporting inventory. IoT is broader: it includes devices, connectivity, cloud platforms, data storage, analytics, and applications that turn device data into automation and business outcomes at scale.
- When should I use IoT?
- Use IoT when you need ongoing visibility or control over physical assets—especially when manual checks are too slow, expensive, or unsafe. Common triggers include: monitoring equipment health to prevent downtime, tracking location/condition of assets in transit, automating building operations (HVAC/lighting), or collecting environmental data (air quality, temperature, vibration) to improve safety and efficiency.
- How much does IoT cost?
- IoT costs typically come from four areas: (1) devices and sensors (hardware, installation, maintenance), (2) connectivity (cellular, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, satellite, SIM/data plans), (3) cloud services (device connectivity, messaging, storage, analytics, rules/automation), and (4) operations (security updates, monitoring, support). Pricing depends heavily on the number of devices, message frequency/size, data retention, and whether you need real-time processing or long-term analytics.
Category: hardware
Difficulty: basic
Related Terms
See Also