IoT Physical Devices & Endpoints

IoT Physical Devices & Endpoints

• An IoT device is any physical object with a unique identifier that can send and receive data over a network. Examples include smart phones, smart TVs, computers, refrigerators, and cars.
• These devices connect to the internet and share information about themselves or their surroundings (using connected sensors). They can also be used to control physical entities remotely.
• IoT devices have basic building blocks: sensing, actuation, and communication.
• Sensing: Sensors gather data about the environment. Sensors can be attached to or part of the IoT device.
• Actuation: Actuators perform actions based on the sensed data. IoT devices have various actuators to control physical entities.
• Communication: Communication modules send data collected by sensors to other devices or cloud-based servers, and receive data and commands from other devices or remote applications. Analysis and processing modules evaluate the data collected.
• Example IoT Device (Raspberry Pi): A low-cost mini-computer with credit card-sized physical dimensions, runs various Linux flavors; capable of most desktop computer tasks, interacts with sensors and actuators through general-purpose I/O pins.
• It runs the Linux operating system which supports Python, immediately usable ("out-of-the-box"). Raspberry Pi OS is based on the Debian Linux distribution and comes in both full desktop and lite versions.
• Other popular IoT devices include pcDuino, BeagleBone Black, and Cubieboard.

Raspberry Pi Components

• System-on-a-Chip (SoC): The main processor integrating CPU, GPU, and other components. Common types are Broadcom BCM2xxx series.
• CPU: Executes computing instructions. ARM-based processors common.
• GPU: Handles graphic processing tasks. Used for multimedia and graphical interfaces.
• RAM: Temporary data and instruction storage for active use. Amounts vary (1GB-8GB).
• Storage: Uses microSD cards (no built-in storage). Used for OS, apps, and data storage. Some support USB booting.
• GPIO Pins: General Purpose Input/Output pins enabling interactions with external devices (e.g., sensors, motors).
• USB Ports: Connect peripherals such as keyboards, mice, Wi-Fi adapters.
• Video and Audio Outputs: Connect to displays and speakers (e.g., HDMI, audio jack).
• Ethernet: Ports for wired network connections.
• Wireless Connectivity: Some models support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Power Supply: Micro USB or USB-C power input.

Raspberry Pi Interfaces

• Serial: Communicates using receive (RX) and transmit (TX) components.
• SPI: Synchronous Serial Peripheral Interface; for communicating with a variety of devices.
• I2C: Inter-Integrated Circuit; communicates with hardware devices using SDA (data line), and SCL (clock line).

Linux on Raspberry Pi

• Raspbian: Debian Wheezy port optimized for Raspberry Pi.
• Arch: Arch Linux port for AMD devices.
• Pidora: Fedora Linux optimized for Raspberry Pi.
• RaspBMC: XBMC media-center distribution.
• OpenELEC: Fast and user-friendly XBMC distribution.
• RISC OS: Fast and compact operating system.

Other Devices

• pcDuino: Single-board computer, similar in concept to the Raspberry Pi, but offers a wider range of features and connectivity options. Uses ARM based processors. Comes with various amounts of RAM (from 512MB to 1GB or more). Offers GPIO pins, video and audio output, a number of USB and Ethernet ports, and supports Bluetooth connectivity.
• BeagleBone Black: Designed primarily for embedding applications. Uses a Texas Instrument Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 processor and has a variety of ports that include HDMI, USBs and Ethernet. It has 512MB of onboard DDR3 RAM.
• Cubieboard: Single-board computer for embedded devices with the specific processors varying across different types. It can range from 512 MB to 2 GB or more of RAM. Offer GPIO pins, video and audio output options; USB and Ethernet ports; and compatibility with various operating systems such as Ubuntu or Android.

Explore the fundamental concepts of IoT devices, focusing on their ability to connect, communicate, and interact with the environment. This quiz covers key components such as sensing, actuation, and communication modules that enable IoT functionalities. Test your understanding of how these devices operate and their applications in today's world.