Many devices have been interconnected since the 1980s. But with the advent of the Internet, the scale of connections began to generate value. And this vast amount of interconnected data creates benefits for industry, the environment, safety, efficiency and performance. The so-called internet of things (IoT), which represents this reality, is creeping into more and more companies. In fact, 91.5% of European firms already consider it to be a fundamental technology for their success, according to Microsoft’s latest Iot singals report. “Having more connections to devices has resulted in a greater optimization of processes, for example when reviewing incidents in factories. And in the last two years they have gone from around 10,000 million connected devices to 40,000 around the world”, explains Yasser Alsaied, vice president of IoT at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Thermostats, light sensors, alarms, robotics… what are the latest trends?
“We will see more and more adoption in the automotive world. In 2030, 95% of cars will be connected to the cloud, which will make it much easier for them to grow,” adds Alsaied. On the other hand, there will also be new developments in services, security, traffic control and pollution control. Ona is an autonomous and electric car designed by the UPC and the automotive and mobility research and innovation hub Carnet. This one, which was presented a few days ago at the IoT Solutions World Congress and is awaiting the legislation that will allow it to circulate, is able to bring packages to people and even buy them. “It works with batteries and can load up to 100 kilograms of weight”, explains its project manager Clément Lemardelé.
Digital twins
Another major development of the IoT is the creation of digital twins, which will be seen more and more. A digital twin is about creating a virtual impression of a physical thing, such as a factory or building. AWS has its own digital twin creator, Twinmaker. “What it does is connect to all the control areas, cameras and sensors, and make sense of the data”, describes Aslaied.
Tiago is a robot built by Pal Robotics, which also attended the IoT Solutions World Congress to showcase its precision in handling goods and objects. The company has incorporated software that allows to “operate the gripper-shaped hand of the robot remotely”, explains the CEO of the company Francisco Ferro. One of the main uses is for the help of elderly people, being able to give the emergency alert if necessary. The company was born in 2008 and already has around 100 employees, with a turnover of five million who devote the vast majority to reinvestment.
In any case, data analysis helps to make the most appropriate and fast decisions in any sector thanks to the Internet of Things.