CIT-1107
Introduction to the
Internet of Things
Operating systems, smart homes, industry, and how to keep connected devices secure
Dr. Mike Libassi
TODAY
What we will cover
01
What is IoT?
Definition, building blocks, architecture
02
Operating systems
What software runs on tiny devices
03
Home and industry
Smart homes and the Industrial IoT
04
Security basics
Why IoT is a target and simple defenses
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01 · WHAT IS IoT?
Defining the Internet of Things
Everyday physical objects fitted with sensors, software and network connections so they can collect data and act on it, often without a person in the loop.
"Things"
Thermostats, door locks, pumps, tractors, pacemakers
Not "things"
Laptops and phones, which are general-purpose computers
Key idea
Each device does one job, and does it automatically
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01 · WHAT IS IoT?
Four building blocks
Sense
Sensors measure the world: temperature, motion, light, vibration, location
Connect
Radios send the data: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, cellular, LoRaWAN
Process
Software on the device, a gateway or the cloud turns raw data into decisions
Act
Actuators change the world: open a valve, lock a door, send an alert
Example: a smart sprinkler senses soil moisture, connects to a weather service, processes the forecast and acts by skipping tomorrow's watering.
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01 · WHAT IS IoT?
How the pieces connect
1
Devices
Sensors and actuators in the field
›
2
Edge / Gateway
Collects, filters and translates protocols
›
3
Network
Home Internet, cellular or private networks
›
4
Cloud
Stores data, runs analytics and rules
›
5
Application
The app or dashboard a person uses
Data flows left to right; commands flow back. Edge computing moves some processing closer to the devices for speed and privacy.
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02
Operating systems
What software runs on a device with no screen, little memory and a battery that has to last?
02 · OPERATING SYSTEMS
Why IoT devices need a different OS
Tiny memory
Many microcontrollers have kilobytes of RAM, not gigabytes
Limited power
A battery sensor may need to run for months or years
Real-time deadlines
An airbag or motor controller must respond in a guaranteed time
Always connected
Built-in network stacks and over-the-air (OTA) updates
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02 · OPERATING SYSTEMS
Common IoT operating systems
Operating system
Type
Runs on
Where you see it
FreeRTOS
Real-time OS, open source (AWS)
Microcontrollers
Sensors, wearables, appliances
Zephyr
Real-time OS (Linux Foundation)
Microcontrollers
Bluetooth and Thread devices
Eclipse ThreadX
Real-time OS (formerly Azure RTOS)
Microcontrollers
Consumer and industrial devices
Contiki-NG, RIOT
Lightweight open-source IoT OS
Low-power wireless nodes
Sensor networks, research
Embedded Linux
Full OS (Yocto, Raspberry Pi OS)
Microprocessors
Gateways, routers, cameras, smart TVs
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02 · OPERATING SYSTEMS
Real-time OS vs. general-purpose OS
Real-time OS (RTOS)
General-purpose (Linux)
Timing
Predictable, guaranteed deadlines
Best effort, may pause for other tasks
Size
Kilobytes
Megabytes to gigabytes
Power
Can sleep most of the time on a battery
Usually needs steady power
Features
A few tasks, no user accounts or desktop
Users, file systems, apps, full networking
Updates
Whole firmware image, often OTA
Package manager, individual programs
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03
IoT at home and in industry
Same building blocks, very different stakes: convenience at home, uptime and safety at work.
03 · AT HOME
The smart home
Climate
Thermostats that learn your schedule
Lighting and plugs
Schedules, scenes, remote on/off
Security
Smart locks, video doorbells, cameras
Voice and hubs
Smart speakers that control other devices
Appliances
Washers, fridges and robot vacuums
Health
Fitness trackers, connected scales
How they talk
Wi-Fi · Bluetooth LE · Zigbee · Z-Wave · Thread, with Matter as the industry standard that lets brands work together
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03 · IN INDUSTRY
The Industrial IoT (IIoT)
Manufacturing
Machine monitoring, predictive maintenance
Energy and utilities
Smart meters, grid and water sensors
Agriculture
Soil sensors, GPS-guided tractors, livestock tags
Healthcare
Infusion pumps, remote patient monitoring
Logistics
Fleet tracking, cold-chain temperature tags
Smart cities
Traffic signals, parking, street lighting
The difference
Industry connects machines that control physical processes, so a failure can mean downtime, damage or injury, not just a lost setting
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03 · IN INDUSTRY
Example: predictive maintenance
SENSE
A vibration sensor sits on a motor
›
CONNECT
Readings stream to an edge gateway
›
PROCESS
Analytics spot a pattern that signals bearing wear
›
ACT
A work order is created before the motor fails
Fix it on a planned schedule instead of after it breaks and stops the line.
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04 · SECURITY BASICS
Every connected device is a small computer someone else can try to log into.
Mirai, 2016
Malware took over cameras and routers still using factory-default passwords, then used them as a botnet to knock major websites offline.
04 · SECURITY BASICS
Common risks and simple defenses
Risk
What it looks like
Basic defense
Default passwords
Ships with admin / admin
Change it at setup; use a unique password
Outdated firmware
Known bugs never get fixed
Turn on automatic updates; buy supported brands
Unencrypted traffic
Data readable by anyone on the network
Use WPA3/WPA2 Wi-Fi; prefer devices using TLS
Flat networks
A hacked bulb can reach your laptop
Put IoT on a guest network or VLAN
Privacy leaks
Cameras and mics share more than expected
Review settings; disable features you don't use
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WRAP-UP
Key takeaways
1
IoT devices sense, connect, process and act, usually without a person involved
2
Small devices run a real-time OS; bigger ones run embedded Linux
3
Home IoT is about convenience; industrial IoT is about uptime and safety
4
Change default passwords, update firmware, and segment the network
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DISCUSSION
Count the connected devices in your home.
Which one would you least want hacked, and what is one step you could take this week to protect it?
CIT-1107 · Introduction to the Internet of Things · Questions?