CHALLENGE OVERVIEW
The Internet of Things Challenge is a unique opportunity for students in years 9-12 to learn first-hand about a range of advanced topics from wireless sensor networks to machine to machine (M2M) technologies, to the Internet of Things and their applications with support of industry experts.
THE TASK
Students will build a networked solution to track and analyze heat data for a healthier classroom environment, and comparing weather data with actual local data, using wireless sensor networks, networked devices, and cloud computing and online dashboards.
OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
The Internet of Things Challenge helps students understand the opportunities that arise when we have the ability to collect, correlate, analyse and respond to the data from a range of intelligent sources and systems.
Imagine a world where signs suggest you move into the shade because the ultraviolet levels where you’re swimming have become too high. Or where you arrive on time for an away game because Dad’s car nav system received a warning about a road accident and suggested a different route.
A great deal of this information is already available, but it needs people with imagination to bring it together in meaningful ways.
What will you do in the Challenge?
Students will:
- gain an understanding of how to assemble networked hardware and sensor modules to collect data
- gain an understanding of how temperature sensors work
- place and connect the hardware and sensors correctly to gather data
- gain an understanding of different data types that are used on the Internet
- configure network access to a Cloud service and upload your data
- gain an understanding of different ways data can be displayed to facilitate communication
- gain an understanding of the value of correlating data from different sources
- create a dashboard to display live data for your project
- learn how to trigger events using changes in data
- learn some ways in which data is currently being used o add value in commercial and industrial applications
Take a look at some of the examples below, and then imagine the ways you could help to change your world and make it even better!
PRE-READING
WHAT IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of everyday physical objects connected through the Internet and the communication that occurs between these objects and other Internet-enabled devices and systems.
The Internet of Things extends internet connectivity beyond traditional devices like personal computers and laptop computers, smart phones and tablets to devices and everyday things that make use of embedded technology to communicate and interact with the external environment via the Internet.
This video from Intel gives a general explanation of the Internet of Things.
Case studies
These two videos show how devices and sensors are being used to change the way traditional tasks are being done.
Smart Farming on the Vine
A Smart Cities and Highways Perspective
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WHAT IS RASPBERRY PI?
The Internet of Things Challenge uses a Raspberry Pi computer module and temperature sensors to gather data and make it available to other systems.
This video gives a brief introduction to the Raspberry Pi technology: What is a Raspberry Pi?
WHAT ARE SENSORS?
According to Wikipedia, “A sensor is a converter that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an (today mostly electronic) instrument.” For example, a thermometer is a kind of sensor that converts ambient temperature into the expansion and contraction of liquid in a glass tube.
You might like to read some more about sensors here at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensor
For The Internet of Things Challenge, you will be using temperature sensors that measure the voltage across a diode.
Case study – using sensors to provide information
The following link to an article and video shows how museums are using sensors (Bluetooth LE proximity beacons) to provide personalised museum tours to visitors:
http://www.worklearnmobile.org/articles/mobile-museum-tours-apps-and-indoor-positioning
FURTHER READING
Read more about the Internet of Things:
CISCO – http://www.cisco.com/web/solutions/trends/iot/overview.html
IBM – http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/overview/article/iot_video.html