FogHorn Sept 10 Meeting

IOT=IIOT, which is a vast network of objects. Built in or embedded sensors and electronics. This technology is planned for smart buildings, city streets, tunnels, traffic flow...  The opportunities are almost unlimited. For example, this technology turns on the fans in the Lantos tunnel.

Think about production facilities, new plants/remodeled plants we get rid of the wires and use sensors. We already have remote utilIty monitoring. No wires, all that is needed is an Internet address and bandwidth.

Look at the Salad Bowl Express.  It's an express train carrying lettuce.  It has 3 stops in 3 days.  Any delay or malfunction could ruin the product.  The train cars have location sensors, humidity sensors, refrigeration sensors...  The sensors can notify and send a repair truck automatically, in time to salvage the load. An up close and personal example is--GPS tracking.  Track your dog, cat, car, phone...   It's mobile, connects by the Internet and is wireless. 

"The future is an exponential expansion of the relationships you and I share with our devices, local data storage and cloud storage."

For example, XfinityHOME Service monitors cameras, AC system, lights, even sounds via phone or tablet.  New homes will be loaded with IIOT sensors. Tesla can monitor performance of Model S anywhere in the world.

Chips & micro-controllers are used to control the IIOT sensors. Writing the code is pretty basic. Finding airspace is the challenge, old UHF TV channels and radio bands will disappear and their bandwidth will be used.  This will require some FCC rule changes.

All of this will require energy, Batteries are an option, but with obvious problems like disposal.  Harvesting energy is a new option, one option is to convert heat to energy.

A couple of other issues are the need for high speed Internet access in rural areas. We also need a handle on cyber-security.

Q & A