IoT: Summary

The Internet of Things (or shortened ‘IoT’) is a hot topic in today’s world which carries extraordinary significance in socio-economic and technical aspects of everyday life. Products designed for consumers, long-lasting goods, automobiles and other vehicles, sensors, utilities and other everyday objects are able to become connected among themselves through the Internet and strong data analytic capabilities and therefore transform our surroundings. Internet of Things is forecast to have an enormous impact on the economy; some analysts anticipate almost 100 billion interconnected IoT devices. On the other hand, other analysts proclaim that IoT devices shall input into the global economy more than $11 trillion by 2025.

However, the Internet of Things comes with many important challenges which, if not overcome, could diminish or even put a stop to the progress of it thus failing to realize all its potential advantages. One of the greatest challenges is security: the newspapers are filled with headlines alerting the public to the dangers of hacking internet-connected devices, identity theft and privacy intrusion. These technical and security challenges remain and are constantly changing and developing; at the same time, new legal policies are emerging.

This document’s purpose is to help the Internet Society community find their way in the discourse about the Internet of Things regarding its pitfalls, shortcomings and promises.

Many broad ideas and complex thoughts surround the Internet of Things and in order to find one’s way, the key concepts that should be looked into as they represent the foundation of circumstances and problems of IoT are:

- Transformational Potential: If IoT takes off, a potential outcome of it would be a ‘hyperconnected world’ where limitations on applications or services that use technology cease to exist.

- IoT Definitions: although there is not one universal definition, the term Internet of Things basically refers to several connected objects, sensors or items (not considered computers) which create, exchange and control data with next to none human intervention.

- Enabling Technologies: Cloud computing, data analytics, connectivity and networking all lead to the ability to combine and interconnect computers, sensors and networks all in order to control other devices.

- Connectivity Models: There are four common communication models and are as following: Device-to-Device, Device-to-Cloud, Device-to-Gateway, and finally Back-End Data-Sharing. These models show how flexible IoT devices can be when connecting and when providing value to their respective users.

What is RS-232, what is RS-422, and what is RS-485?

RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 are serial connections which can be found in various consumer electronics devices. Namely, RS-232 (ANSI/EIA-232 Standard) is the serial connection which can be historically found on IBM-compatible PCs. It is employed in many different scenarios and for many purposes, such as connecting a mouse, a printer, or a modem, as well as connecting different industrial instrumentation. Due to improvements in line drivers and cables, applications often expand the performance of RS-232 beyond the distance and speed limits which are listed in the standard. RS-232 is restricted to point-to-point connections between PC serial ports and various other devices. RS-232 hardware can be employed for serial communication up to distances of 50 feet.
On the other hand, RS-422 (EIA RS-422-A Standard) is the serial connection which can be historically found on Apple Macintosh computers. RS-422 employs a differential electrical signal, as opposed to unbalanced signals referenced to ground with the RS-232. Differential transmission employs two lines each for transmitting and receiving signals which lead to greater immunity to noise and the signal can travel longer distances as compared to the RS-232. These advantages make RS-422 a better option to consider for industrial applications.
Finally, RS-485 (EIA-485 Standard) is an improvement over RS-422, because it increases the number of devices from 10 to 32 and defines the electrical features necessary to safeguard adequate signal voltages under maximum capacity. With this enhanced multi-drop capability, one is able to create networks of devices connected to a single RS-485 serial port. The noise immunity and multi-drop capability make RS-485 the serial connection of choice in industrial applications requiring many distributed devices networked to a PC or other controller for data collection, HMI, or other operations. RS-485 is a superset of RS-422; therefore, all RS-422 devices can be controlled by RS-485. RS-485 hardware can be employed for serial communication with up to 4000 feet of cable network.

Requirements of real time control

Real time embedded control processors are individual computing units which have been implemented into pieces of larger and far more complicated equipment such as vehicles of all sort (trucks, airplanes, boats, yachts etc.), then other computer peripherals, audio systems and military equipment and weapons. The control processors are said to be embedded because they are integrated into a piece of equipment which is not in itself considered a computer nor does it execute some computing functions.

Requirements of real time control

Whether they are invisible or visible to the user, the real-time control processors are nowadays widespread and incorporated into people’s daily life and actions. For example, an invisible real-time control processor can be found in vehicles: this is the ABS (automatic braking system) which holds the vehicle steady on the road and prevents it from skidding on the road. Also, a real-time control processor can be used to replace high cost, high maintenance and bulky components of a given system, while at the same time providing better functions at a lower expense. In other certain occurrences, the presence of a real-time control processor may be visible, for example, an autopilot on an aircraft. But in all aforementioned cases, this real-time control processor is still a part of a larger system. And because of the fact that it is a component of a greater system, and that system has its own requirements and operating capabilities, most of these systems limit the processor in regard to its size, then weight, cost, power or reliability. Simultaneously though, the real-time control processor is bound to deliver top performance, for these real time events are mostly external inputs to the system which is in need of a response within milliseconds. If the processor fails to deliver a response in such short time span, disaster may strike: the autopilot may not change the course of the aircraft accordingly and may misinform the pilot about altitude.

LabVIEW Projects you should Know

STÄUBLI LABVIEW INTEGRATION LIBRARY

The DSM LabVIEW-Stäubli Control Library is created to simplify communications between a host PC running LabVIEW and a Stäubli robotic motion controller so as to control the robot from the LabVIEW environment. 

Stäubli Robots are usually found in the automation industry. The standard Staubli programming language, VAL3, is an adjustable language allowing for a wide variety of tasking. Although the VAL3 language works well in its environment, there are limited options for connecting the robot to an existing PC-based test & measurement system. The LabVIEW language, on the other hand, has been created from the start to run systems found in a research environment. The DSM LabVIEW-Staubli Integration Library lets the user promptly create applications for a Staubli robot using the familiar LabVIEW programming language.

 

 

AUTOMATED CRYOGENIC TEST STATION

A test station was built with the intent in mind to automate cyclic cryogenic exposure.  A LabVIEW program was inserted to automate the process and collect data. The software featured:

• Checked the temperature of up to 8 thermocouples

• Checked the life status of test specimens twice per cycle

• Automated backups to allow for data recovery

• System was integrated with a pneumatic control board and safety features

 

 

TENSILE TESTER CONTROL PROGRAM

This system is able to record high-resolution x-ray imagery of test subjects of aerospace alloys while they are under tensile and cyclic fatigue tests.  This capability can improve understanding of how grain refinement is used to enhance material properties.  The tensile tester can function in multiple modes of operation. The sample can be fully rotated within the tester, permitting three-dimensional imagery of samples.

 

DYNAMOMETER TEST STATION

A test station designed to characterize piezoelectric motors was built, with programmable current source and a DC motor integrated into the system to apply a range of resistive torque loads to the tested motor.  A torque load cell and a high-resolution encoder were used to measure torque and speed, which is collected at each resistive torque level, forming a torque curve. A LabVIEW project was programmed to run the test. Test settings were configured in the program and data was collected by an NI DAQ card. The program also included data manipulation and analysis.

 

OPEN-LOOP ACTUATOR CONTROLLER

The goal is to characterize the actuator's performance in open-loop so that a closed-loop control scheme can be developed. This program can output voltage waveforms as well as voltage steps up to 40V. Voltage duration is programmable down to the millisecond and an encoder is integrated into the system and readings are real time. The encoder features resolution on a micron level and experiences exceptional noise due to the vibrations present in the system. The data is filtered after the test to report accurate, low-noise data.

I²C and SPI

Nowadays, at the low end of the transmission protocols, I²C (for ‘Inter-Integrated Circuit’, protocol) and SPI (for ‘Serial Peripheral Interface’) are to be found. Both protocols are well-suited for transmissions betwixt unified circuits, for slow transmission with onboard components. At the essence of these two popular protocols two major companies are found – Philips for I²C and Motorola for SPI – and two diverse histories about why, when and how the protocols were generated.
The I²C bus was developed in 1982; its authentic purpose was to supply an effortless way to link a CPU to peripherals chips in a TV set. Peripheral instruments in embedded systems are frequently connected to the microcontroller as memory-mapped I/O mechanisms. One straightforward way to do this is connecting the components to the microcontroller parallel address and data busses. This results in countless wiring on the PCB (printed circuit board) and supplementary ‘glue logic’ to decode the address bus on which all the peripherals are connected. To reserve microcontroller pins, further logic and make the PCBs simpler, in order words, to lower the expenditure.
SPI is a single-master communication protocol. This means that one fundamental device initiates all the communications with the servants.

About Temperature Data Loggers

A data logger is, simply put, an electronic device which records and stores data. There are various ways data devices, or data loggers, tools designed for recording or monitoring processes and different parameters, acquire data. These data loggers have become a revolutionary solution for logging vast amounts of data and are nowadays symbolized by a vast array of devices, from small, handheld ones to complex systems. For example, a data logger device can be applied to automobile and other vehicle control, then the acquisition of machine or engine data and monitoring of conditions present in a machine. Multichannel systems which track vibration, force detection and various measurements in turbines and generators can all be found. The findings are later presented as charts, graphs and diagrams.

Temperature data logger

Temperature data loggers, also called temperature monitoring devices, can be found with ease, and they offer a variety of solutions to adapt to any temperature measurement scenario. Data loggers which measure atmospheric temperature almost always have a built-in sensor which is then employed to measure surrounding temperatures in rooms, fridges or other enclosed spaces. Needless to say, these instruments are capable of autonomous work, that is, they record temperatures over a defined period, without the need of a person meddling with it.

There are many various constructions available for data logging devices. Most of these devices have internal measuring sensors or can be linked to external sources. Also, most of these devices can be connected to via cord, RFID or a wireless system for data retrieval purposes, calibration or set up; many can also be set up and controlled via a personal computer or a smartphone. These devices are usually small, battery-powered, portable, equipped with internal memory for data storage, a connection for data retrieval of choice and sensors.

RS-232 and RS-485 Serial Communication Protocols

The RS232/485 port consecutively sends and receives bytes filled with information one bit at a time. Although the serial method is somewhat slower than parallel communication, which allows the transmission of an entire byte at once, it is far simpler and can be employed over longer distances because power consumption is lower than that of parallel one. As an example, the IEEE 488 standard for parallel communication requires that the cabling between equipment can be no more than 20 meters total, with no more than 2 meters between any two connected devices. On the other hand, RS232/485 cabling is possible to be extended 1200 meters or greater.
Typically, RS232/485 is employed to transmit American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) data. Although National Instruments serial hardware is able to transmit 7-bit as well as 8-bit data packages, many applications use 7-bit data. Seven-bit ASCII can represent the English alphabet, decimal numbers, and common punctuation marks. It is a standard protocol that virtually all hardware and software are able to comprehend. Serial communication is completed employing three transmission lines: (1) ground, (2) transmit, and (3) receive. Due to the fact that RS232/485 communication is asynchronous, the serial port is able to send and receive data on one line while also sending and receiving data on another. Other lines are also available, but are not required nor are they employed. The crucial serial characteristics are baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity. These parameters must match to allow communication between a serial device and a serial port on a computer.
The RS-232 port, or ANSI/EIA-232 port, is the serial connection which one is able to come across on most PCs. It is used for many purposes, such as connecting a mouse, a printer, or a modem, as well as other various industrial instrumentation. The RS-232 protocol is able to withstand only one device connected to each port. The RS485 (EIA-485 Standard) protocol is able to have 32 devices connected to each port. With this enhanced multidrop capability, one can create networks of devices connected to a single RS-485 serial port. Noise immunity and multidrop capability make RS-485 the serial connection of choice in industrial applications which are in need of many distributed instruments and peripherals connected to a PC or other controller for data collection.