A decade ago, would you have imagined that technology would be ruling our lives almost completely? And now we can’t imagine our lives without it. That’s both a boon and curse, but that’s a discussion for another day. One such thing that’s raking up all the attention in the field of manufacturing is the Internet of Things or IoT Programming.
The world of manufacturing and programming is undergoing a revolution also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. It helps businesses work more smartly and efficiently, which in turn increases their effectiveness. There are benefits to faster and better ways of communication between operations, and IOT programming provides just that.
What Is IoT?
IoT, or ‘Internet of Things,’ is the term used to describe a network of devices that are connected and capable of relaying data to each other using the Internet. These devices can range from smartphones and wearable trackers to industrial machinery and smart home appliances.
The main aim of IOT programming is to make these devices gather information, interpret it, and share it with the developers to enhance their performance without the need to intervene. This increases their productivity and better fulfils business needs.
Top 5 IoT Use-Cases
IOT Programming is used in various applications. Some of these are explained below:
1. Predictive Maintenance
One of the uses of IoT programming is predictive maintenance. It utilizes sensor data and machine learning algorithms to predict when the machinery of the equipment is likely to crash.
That allows the manufacturer to proactively provide maintenance before a breakdown occurs. In this way, the sensors help predict various parameters, including temperature, vibration, and performance.
Example: General Electric (GE) uses the concept of predictive maintenance to improve the consistency and performance of its machinery.
2. Remote Monitoring and Control
IoT programming enables manufacturers to remotely control and monitor devices using internet-connected sensors and control systems. This provides the operators and engineers with real-time data. They receive alerts and make changes on those devices without having to be present physically.
Example: Maersk Shipping Company uses remote monitoring for cargo shipments using sensors and GPS trackers
3. Asset Tracking and Inventory Management
Using IoT, manufacturers keep track of the real-time location, status, and condition of the equipment. They use devices like RFID (Radio frequency identification) tags, sensors, scanners, etc.
Asset tracking enables companies to report assets and inventory movements precisely. That includes the time of their manufacturing to their disposal while optimizing their usage and storage properly.
Example: Amazon Go utilizes IOT programming to keep track of its inventory and maintain stock levels, thereby preventing out-of-stock problems.
4. Energy Management And Optimization
Energy management using IOT programming can be done using internet-connected sensors, devices, and data analysis. They are used to study usage trends in multiple places, such as factories, transportation systems, and other utilities.
The main purpose of doing it is to minimize the wastage of energy while augmenting efficiency. Another purpose is to reduce costs without jeopardizing the performance of the machinery used.
Example: Barcelona’s Smart City uses IoT-equipped streetlights to adjust the brightness based on the surroundings, ultimately playing a role in energy optimization.
5. Supply Chain Management
IOT-enhanced sensors instilled in the machinery allow the manufacturer to track and monitor the status of the goods.
This gives the manufacturer an insight into the storage conditions and stock of the items. This enables them to make changes accordingly from the time of origin till their consumption.
Example: Volvo makes use of IOT programming to track its product supply globally.
Wrapping Up
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the rightful term for the Internet of Things or IOT as it has brought about a better and more efficient outlook on how the new companies are supposed to work. Apart from the listed use cases, other applications of IoT include Quality control, digital twinning, etc.
So, it’s clear that IOT programming has opened a plethora of possibilities for understanding the customer’s needs in a structured manner, and it’s only going to get better from here.
