You may already know some ways that the Industrial Internet of Things (Industrial IoT) is saving your time and money. In this guest blog post you’ll learn more about why IoT is growing.
Imagine a scene where your refrigerator tells when you run out of vegetables and fruits, gets in touch with the market, orders the amount you usually need, and finally informs you by sending a message on your phone. Imagine you are on your way home from the office and you use your mobile app to turn on the lights, the AC, and the television in your home. Imagine a scene where your dishwasher starts working when you are busy with some work or away from home. Sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not a distant dream anymore since the Internet of Things (IoT) makes all this possible.
The IoT refers to the connection of billions of physical and virtual objects around the world – furniture, humans, animals, fitness devices, home appliances, roads, cars, trees, and more to the internet by embedded software and sensors to send and receive data. It promises to have a huge impact on our lives in the future as it reduces human intervention and increases the efficiency of services, thereby saving time and money. Accessing information becomes simple as we can control a device that is miles away from us in real time. The technology is rapidly gaining pace in recent years due to the advancements in sensor networks, mobile devices, networking, and cloud technologies. According to Progressive Markets’ report on the Internet of Things market, the industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.7% from 2017 to 2025.
Here are a few areas where we can leverage the power of IoT to solve our everyday problems.
- Automation
IoT technology is used in industrial applications to automate manufacturing processes and optimize production processes. IoT systems are used to check if various industrial machines need any kind of maintenance or repair. In factories, IoT helps monitor the emission of toxic gases, preventing damage to workers’ health and our environment. In agriculture, sensors measure soil moisture and reduce water waste since irrigation systems only water crops when it’s really needed. In warehouses, the location of inventories are traced with the technology like blockchain and IoT. At home, IoT remotely controls and programs home appliances like your thermostat, Air Conditioner, TV, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, music system, curtains, and others. Today’s modern IoT sensors also prove to be useful in detecting and avoiding thefts.
- Monitoring Our Environment
Industrial IoT sensor systems measure environmental pollutants as well as natural calamities. It can help monitor the emissions from factories and vehicles, thereby reducing air pollution. It can help keep tabs on the release of harmful substances in rivers and the sea, thereby controlling water pollution. It can track the quality of drinking water being supplied to various places. With regards to natural calamities, IoT sends warnings related to earthquakes and tsunamis by sensing tremors. The monitoring of the water level in rivers and dams to prevent floods is also possible with IoT. The technology can also be used to detect forest fires.
- Health Monitoring
Internet of Things and sensor technologies are used to identify a variety of health issues. Monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, various organs, and more can be done to check for anomalies. Then health information is automatically and immediately sent doctors for analysis. Using IoT with health systems is quite advantageous for the elderly and disabled people who live independently.
- Smart City Operation
The structural health of bridges, buildings, and other structures is monitored with Industrial IoT sensors. In the case of an issue, risk, or danger with any building or construction material, you have warnings before it’s too late. IoT also helps manage traffic, street lights, noise pollution, parking, and flood warning systems among other applications for Smart Cities.
All these applications of IoT foster better management, increased efficiency, and convenience – resulting in a better quality of life for you, your family, and everyone on our planet.
Note: a special thank you goes out to Nisha Dodeja for writing and contributing this guest blog post. Thanks Nisha!
