The Future Of The IOT And The Revolution Of Connected Objects

What will the future of IoT hold for us ? Not even experts and analysts in this field agree on the number of connected objects currently and those that will exist in 2025. The truth is that the technology that concerns us evolves rapidly and is increasingly involved in our daily lives.

It is safe to predict that startup projects in IoT will attract more interest from venture capital entities in the short term. In fact, it is estimated that in 2021 investment in innovation involving the Internet of Things could exceed 1.4 billion euros.

Therefore, we consider it pertinent to present a list of advances in M2M and M2P communication in development that will optimize productivity and our quality of life.

iSIM: present and future of IoT

As we previously reported, the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is the essential user identification system for mobile communication with the GSMA standard. But this component soon transcended its use in telephony to also enter the field of connected objects. Therefore, its evolution in size and presentation facilitated optimization in the design and security of mobile phones and IoT devices for different purposes.

Currently Vodafone and Arm, a renowned corporation specializing in architecture for processors, are jointly developing IoT solutions with iSIM . This version of the SIM does not have a definitive size, but it could reach a fraction of a square millimeter. It is also integrated into the device processors, so it does not require its own.

Considering the above, the manufacturing costs of M2M and M2P devices are considerably reduced. And obviously this will make IoT solutions more accessible to many people and companies.

Digital twins: the future of IoT as a monitoring tool

Certainly, the concept of “digital twin” is not new, but its current refinement will drive Industry 4.0 towards more demanding quality standards. In practical terms, it is about creating virtual versions of processes and products that mimic the performance of their real references. The purpose of these replicas is to monitor their behavior when subjected to different tests to optimize their performance and properties.

Consequently, part of the future of the IoT is related to the development of increasingly efficient sensors to measure the performance of digital twins . In this way it will be more effective to control systems, correct faults, reduce downtime and create “customized” products according to customer needs. Even service sectors can take advantage of this technology to foresee medium and long-term scenarios or check new business opportunities.

Most advanced sensors in the IIoT field

Regarding Industry 4.0, experts and developers of IoT solutions estimate that we live in the era of sensors and networks. In fact, these components are what define the Industrial Internet of Things or IIoT.

In a nutshell, the IIoT encompasses the set of tools and machines that connect to the network and share data through sensors and applications. For this reason, these instruments are considered smart devices , since they allow the data obtained throughout the supply chain to be processed with analytical platforms.

Today there are innumerable IoT sensors for industrial use for process automation and logistics, flow measurement, identification, movement control and security, among others. But in the short term, a crucial evolution is estimated in tools such as:

• Sensors for AGVs (automated guided vehicles) such as those used by Daimler in its assembly plants in Alabama (USA), China and Hungary. These units move car bodies and other car parts between production areas. A recent innovation in this regard is the integration of advanced sensors and cameras in these vehicles to detect their speed and direction.
• vision systems. In other words, 2D cameras integrated into computer solutions used in quality inspections, which can even be used for the selection of robots. Its 3D versions are used to capture and analyze parts.
• Smart sensors. These devices are exceeding their application limits for sensing and measurement. The multinational developer of industrial sensors Sick is optimizing its versions of sensors that are already capable of capturing a greater amount of information about parts. This data can be shared with higher level technologies such as MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or ERPs (Resource Planning Systems).

Smart road and smart cities: IoT and the new mobility

Similarly, the present and future of the IoT will also be marked by the incorporation of more cities into the concept of smart cities . In parallel, the evolution of connected vehicles with assisted driving functions (CAV) and autonomous driverless cars (AV) will boost smart mobility.

Logically, smart cities and the smart road require a digital transformation of urban roads to guarantee smooth and environmentally sustainable daily circulation. To this end, both solution developers and connectivity providers in these areas are constantly working on improving aspects such as:

• Data generation and transmission systems from automobiles , through sensors and other devices.
• Drones and sensors to monitor traffic conditions, weather conditions and the general state of the road infrastructure.
• Continuous updating of advanced analytics solutions to process and graph the data obtained. In this area, the ability to determine the preventive maintenance needs of roads, structures and devices such as traffic lights is vital.
• Advanced signaling through digital equipment that prevents driving outside the speed limits and that specifies the direction and width of the lanes. Also to establish safety distances, among other safety functions.

IoMT: the future of IoT in the health sector

Without a doubt, the Internet of Things is a key support in the digitization of medical care and health care in general. In this particular aspect such as remote monitoring of patients with acute or chronic conditions and robotic surgery are already a reality.

However, research and development in IoT applied to medicine do not stop. For this reason, advances such as new virtual IoT platforms accessible to a large number of patients could be available in the short and medium term . In just a few years, it is expected that 50% of medical care will be carried out using this type of solution.

Furthermore, more efficient tools will also be needed to manage hospital assets and inventories. This is based on a forecast that indicates a 100% increase in the rate of adoption of these systems in health centers.

In general, the outlook for the development of the IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) is optimistic, taking into account the forecast of the prestigious consulting firm McKenzie. This indicates that healthcare will capitalize on 40% of the economic impact of advances in IoT.

Other Evolving IoT Applications

Smart homes , monitoring of the elderly and children, fleet control are part of other IoT applications currently used. Even so, it is obvious that they are subject to continuous improvement through the incorporation of new functionalities and scopes. All this, in addition to the aspects that we analyzed above, make it difficult to accurately predict what the future of the IoT will bring us.

Also Read: Security In IoT Devices A Pending Issue