Browsing by Subject "IoT"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Open Access
    A study into scalable transport networks for IoT deployment
    (2021) Sizamo, Yandisa; Ramotsoela, Daniel
    The growth of the internet towards the Internet of Things (IoT) has impacted the way we live. Intelligent (smart) devices which can act autonomously has resulted in new applications for example industrial automation, smart healthcare systems, autonomous transportation to name just a few. These applications have dramatically improved the way we live as citizens. While the internet is continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate, this has also been coupled with the growing demands for new services e.g. machine-to machine (M2M) communications, smart metering etc. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) architecture was developed decades ago and was not prepared nor designed to meet these exponential demands. This has led to the complexity of the internet coupled with its inflexible and a rigid state. The challenges of reliability, scalability, interoperability, inflexibility and vendor lock-in amongst the many challenges still remain a concern over the existing (traditional) networks. In this study, an evolutionary approach into implementing a "Scalable IoT Data Transmission Network" (S-IoT-N) is proposed while leveraging on existing transport networks. Most Importantly, the proposed evolutionary approach attempts to address the above challenges by using open (existing) standards and by leveraging on the (traditional/existing) transport networks. The Proof-of-Concept (PoC) of the proposed S-IoT-N is attempted on a physical network testbed and is demonstrated along with basic network connectivity services over it. Finally, the results are validated by an experimental performance evaluation of the PoC physical network testbed along with the recommendations for improvement and future work.
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    Open Access
    Internet of Things in organisations: artefactual characteristics that influence adoption
    (2025) Tshilenge, Henry Busaka; Brown, Irwin
    Background: The Internet of Things (IoT) has gained significant attention from businesses and academia. IoT promises are ambitious: creating, collecting, and sharing information independently of time, place, and motion. Things are rendered autonomous, able to identify themselves, network with other objects, and analyse the data they produce. IoT systems are used in some organisations to improve efficiency and facilitate trade in commodities and services. These systems help prevent errors, monitor operations, track assets, deter theft, and integrate complex systems through real-time data collection and analysis. Problem Statement: IoT promises many benefits, which are already tangible in the agriculture, logistics, retail, and supply chain sectors. However, some organisations still adopt IoT hesitantly, while others still hold a conservative stance. Little is known about its adoption in organisations based on its artefactual characteristics. Purpose: This study explores the artefactual characteristics of the Internet of Things that lead to its adoption and implementation in organisations. The focus is on the impact of identified IoT characteristics on its adoption as reflected by the continuance intention. Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative survey strategy and collected data via the Academic Prolific Online Panel1, with a sample of 293 participants from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Findings: The results indicate that IoT characteristics closely aligned with business needs, such as relative advantage (profitability), Compatibility (alignment with values), seamless integration, and self-adaptation (intelligent, efficient operation and future growth), significantly influence IoT adoption as reflected by the continuance intention in organisations. The study went beyond the traditional Technology-Organisational-Environment (TOE) framework technology characteristics adapted from the Diffusion of Innovation framework, such as relative advantage, complexity, and compatibility. In addition, the findings revealed that integration and self-adaptation (i.e., intelligence) significantly influence technology adoption, as reflected by continuance intention. The research contributes to the knowledge of IoT. The study recommends that future research look further into the technocentric characteristics such as connectivity, security and interoperability, which were unexpectedly found not to influence adoption as reflected by the continuance intention.
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    Open Access
    Modular human-operated radar framework
    (2024) Carstens, Wilhelm L; Winberg, Simon
    This study investigates the development of operator-facing radar systems with contemporary internet technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud services. The viability of modular designs allowing a high degree of adaptability is emphasised, given the inherent capabilities of IoT application-level protocols. The use of other internet technologies and services focus on the increased functionality, commonality, and flexibility they provide to modern integrated radar systems. The investigation starts with an overview of operator-facing radar systems, detailing their current and near-future application, broad design considerations, common architectures and web resources available for their development. In evaluating various IoT protocols from literature, the MQTT protocol is selected and then experimentally analysed against pure transport protocols on consumer hardware, characterising their usage. Then, using these technologies, a common framework is designed and developed, alongside a browser-based Human-Machine Interface (HMI) that allows for general usability and performance testing. These tests reveal the implementation to be adequate for many high-level uses, but at some expense to overall data latency and load, necessitating specific consideration where used. Furthermore, IoT protocols allow for distributed radar systems and highly adaptive single-flow signal chains without employing conventional server infrastructure. Although the conceptual framework is not well suited for all radar uses, it does offer a versatile solution for various high-level applications, with future developments in IoT protocols showing particular promise.
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    Open Access
    A Novel Epidemic Model for the Interference Spread in the Internet of Things
    (2022-04-02) Tuyishimire, Emmanuel; Niyigena, Jean de Dieu; Tubanambazi, Fidèle Mweruli; Rutikanga, Justin Ushize; Gatabazi, Paul; Bagula, Antoine; Niyigaba, Emmanuel
    Due to the multi-technology advancements, internet of things (IoT) applications are in high demand to create smarter environments. Smart objects communicate by exchanging many messages, and this creates interference on receivers. Collection tree algorithms are applied to only reduce the nodes/paths’ interference but cannot fully handle the interference across the underlying IoT. This paper models and analyzes the interference spread in the IoT setting, where the collection tree routing algorithm is adopted. Node interference is treated as a real-life contamination of a disease, where individuals can migrate across compartments such as susceptible, attacked and replaced. The assumed typical collection tree routing model is the least interference beaconing algorithm (LIBA), and the dynamics of the interference spread is studied. The underlying network’s nodes are partitioned into groups of nodes which can affect each other and based on the partition property, the susceptible–attacked–replaced (SAR) model is proposed. To analyze the model, the system stability is studied, and the compartmental based trends are experimented in static, stochastic and predictive systems. The results shows that the dynamics of the system are dependent groups and all have points of convergence for static, stochastic and predictive systems.
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    Open Access
    SHARC Buoy: Robust firmware design for a novel, low-cost autonomous platform for the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone in the Southern Ocean
    (2021) Jacobson, Jamie Nicholas; Verrinder, Robyn; Mishra, Amit; Vichi, Marcello
    Sea ice in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) plays a pivotal role in regulating heat and energy exchange between oceanic and atmospheric systems, which drive global climate. Current understanding of Southern Ocean sea ice dynamics is poor with temporal and spatial gaps in critical seasonal data-sets. The lack of in situ environmental and wave data from the MIZ in the Antarctic region drove the development of UCT's first generation of in situ ice-tethered measurement platform as part of a larger UCT and NRF SANAP project on realistic modelling of the Marginal Ice Zone in the changing Southern Ocean (MISO). This thesis focuses on the firmware development for the device and the design process taken to obtain key measurements for understanding sea ice dynamics and increasing sensing capabilities in the Southern Ocean. The buoy was required to survive the Antarctic climate and contained a global positioning system, temperature sensor, digital barometer and inertial measurement unit to measure waves-in-ice. Power was supplied to the device by a power supply unit consisting of commercial-grade batteries in series with a temperature-resistant low dropout regulator, and a power sensor to monitor the module. A satellite modem transmitted data through the Iridium satellite network. Finally, Flash chips provided permanent data storage. Firmware and peripheral driver files were written in C for an STMicroelectronics STM32L4 Arm-based microcontroller. To optimise the firmware for low power consumption, inactive sensors were placed in power-saving mode and the processor was put to sleep during periods of no sampling activity. The first device deployment took place during the SCALE winter expedition in July 2019. Two devices were deployed on ice floes to test their performance in remote conditions. However, due to mechanical and power errors, the devices failed shortly after deployment. A third device was placed on the deck of SA Aghulas II during the expedition and successfully survived for one week while continuously transmitting GPS coordinates and ambient temperature. The second generation featured subsequent improvements to the mechanical robustness and sensing capabilities of the device. However, due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent Antarctic expeditions were cancelled resulting in the final platform evaluation taking place on land. The device demonstrates a proof of concept for a low-cost, ice-tethered autonomous sensing device. However, additional improvements are required to overcome severe bandwidth and power constraints.
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    The readiness of the agricultural sector to adopt the internet of things: a case of Western Cape, South Africa
    (2025) Soeker, Inaam; Chigona, Wallace; Lusinga, Shallen
    Background: Food scarcity arising from climate change has garnered widespread recognition as a critical global concern, necessitating serious attention. Far-reaching impacts of climate change extend across dimensions such as the environment, technology, policy, and societal progress. Among these dimensions, the implications for food production within the agricultural sector is significant. With the expanding global population, the demand for agricultural output intensifies, exerting unprecedented pressure on the industry to meet this growing need. As a result, the agricultural sector is confronted with the imperative to transition towards sustainable farming practices to enhance overall productivity. Amid this imperative, the integration of technology, particularly the Internet of Things (IoT), emerges as an indispensable solution. Extensive research demonstrates that IoT implementation in agriculture yields manifold benefits, including enhanced food production, increased productivity, and bolstered sustainability. Moreover, IoT equips farmers with tools to navigate the complex challenges posed by climate change and food scarcity, ensuring their competitiveness and profitability. However, a pivotal consideration is the readiness of the agricultural sector to implement IoT. Purpose of the Research: Despite the considerable potential gains, the readiness of the South African agricultural sector to adopt IoT remains a less-explored area. This study aims to address this gap by examining the landscape of IoT adoption readiness within the context of the South African agricultural sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: To evaluate readiness to adopt IoT, a qualitative research method was adopted in this research and an analysis was methodically employed. This multifaceted analysis approach encompassed distinct dimensions— political, environmental, social, and technological (PEST). Each dimension was assessed to ascertain its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), in the context of IoT integration within the agricultural sector. This systematic PEST-SWOT analysis culminated in positioning the readiness of the agricultural sector in South Africa. Findings: The findings of this study unveil a notable duality in South Africa's developmental landscape. This dichotomy becomes apparent through the coexistence of both developed and developing facets. This division manifests in distinct states. On the one hand, the developed portion of the agricultural sector exhibit a tangible readiness for IoT adoption. On the other hand, the developing portion encounter barriers that necessitate comprehensive mitigation of inherent weaknesses and threats resulting in its unpreparedness for adopting IoT. This division closely mirrors the distinction between the commercial and SME sectors, embodying the readiness of the developed state and lack of readiness in the developing state, respectively. This inherent dichotomy, rooted in historical challenges, underscores the urgency for holistic resolutions. Overall, the findings suggest that the South African agricultural sector is not ready for IoT adoption. Practical Implications: The practical implication of this research underscores the vital need for tailored strategies that bridge the readiness gap between the developed and developing portion of the agricultural sector. Addressing the distinctive challenges faced by each portion, particularly considering their historical contexts, will be instrumental in fostering a cohesive and synchronised path towards embracing IoT. Originality/Contribution: The contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of readiness to adopt IoT within the South African agricultural sector. By employing a multi-dimensional PEST-SWOT analysis, this research not only sheds light on the nuanced landscape of IoT adoption but also positions the readiness of the Western Cape's agricultural sector in a holistic context. This approach offers a unique lens through which to understand the intricate challenges and opportunities that IoT adoption presents in this critical sector.