Internet of Things (IoT) Applications With Diverse Direct Communication Methods

Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects or things that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity - which enable the object to collect and exchange data. Rapid proliferation of IoT is driving the intelligence in things used daily in homes, workplaces and industry. The IoT devices typically communicate via radio frequency (RF), such as WiFi and Bluetooth. In this dissertation we deeply analyze the various characteristics of different wireless communication methods in terms of range, energy-efficiency, and radiation pattern. We find that a well-established communication method might not be the most efficient, and other alternate communication methods with the desired properties for a particular application could exist. We exploit radically alternative, innovative, and complimentary wireless communication methods, including radio frequency, infrared (IR), and visible lights, through the IoT applications we have designed and built with those. We have developed various IoT applications which provide security and authentication, enable vehicular communications with smartphones or other smart devices, provide energy-efficient and accurate positioning to smart devices, and enable energy-efficient communications in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).