University of Technology Sydney

48033 Internet of Things

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2020 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Electrical and Data Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (31267 Programming Fundamentals OR 31465 Object-oriented Programming OR 31508 Programming Fundamentals OR 31488 Programming Foundations OR 48023 Programming Fundamentals OR 48430 Fundamentals of C Programming) AND (31270 Networking Essentials OR 31467 Networking 1 OR 31516 Networking Fundamentals OR 31486 Data Communications OR 48720 Network Fundamentals OR 48740 Communications Networks OR 41092 Network Fundamentals OR 41090 Information and Signals)
Anti-requisite(s): 49227 Advanced Sensor Networks

Description

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a distributed system, in which autonomous devices, sometimes called motes, collect environmental data (such as location, speed, temperature, humidity and sound level) or, more recently, medical data (such as heart rate, blood oxygen level and pulse rate). The data is collected across the network, aggregated and fed into business applications. Sensor and actuator networks, telemetry, data processing, distributed data bases, machine vision, AI and analytics are enablers for various applications, including environmental monitoring and control, agricultural monitoring and control, medical monitoring, habitat monitoring and military surveillance. In this subject, students learn the theory, the concepts and the practice of the new paradigm. By designing and developing a medium-complexity, IoT-based application, students learn new skills, learn the benefits of the technology and explore new models of service deployment and data delivery.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Integrate skills and knowledge gained in the course as a whole
2. Explain an integrated, multidisciplinary approach for IoT based solutions, and apply it to real-world scenarios.
3. Analyse, design and implement a distributed IoT system, its components and address its connectivity issues.
4. Explain the principles of sensing/actuation, data transmission and processing, visualisation and analytics, as well as, cybersecurity issues in IoT
5. Execute independent investigation of new IoT applications, methods, technologies, programming models and tools, as well as, application development concepts
6. Recognize and appreciate the collaborative nature of IoT development and the teamwork involved

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
  • Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

Face-to-face tutorials and lab exercises allow students to gain knowledge of the domain of IoT. In class and out of class discussions add to the learning experience in the subject.

In class, all students will work in small teams to discuss the assignments, work individually in the lab implementation using open source hardware and professional software tools. In class, students will discuss and interact with each other to collect and decide on various functional and non-functional system requirements for the design and implementation of IoT application.

In the lectures and tutorial sessions, students are required to answer questions asked by their peer-group and the teaching staff. Students are also required to define the real-life problem and propose a solution in context based on their own understanding and assumptions made regarding user requirements and constraints, the capability of IoT components and availability of tools and technologies. Furthermore, students are expected to apply their analytical and design skills, available technical data to implement a feasible and viable solution and provide a report as a part of the main project assignment.

During the weekly labs, students will use modern software and hardware tools to design, implement and integrate an IoT solution. An in-class peer assessment session will be organised to verify students’ understanding of IoT technology. Out-of-class, students are expected to be involved in self-learning activities, including reading the textbook, recommended articles and reports, studying the lecture slides, watching relevant videos. Students are required to participate in discussions during the class and on a discussion board forum that is available online for students to post questions for other students and teaching staff to provide answers for. Pre-class preparatory activities include reading and critical review of the content of the lecture slides prior to attending lectures and tutorials. Out-of-class, are encouraged to consult and collaborate with each other to confirm the solutions to the assignment questions. All teaching material will be made available for students via UTSOnline for self-study.

Students are expected to receive feedback on the progress of their work on a weekly basis. Students will receive comprehensive feedback on their progress in the subject after each assessment task and specifically before week 4. In the subject, students and staff use online communication and the group meeting to discuss the project before class, and present their work in the class and receive feedback from the staff and other students in the class.

In week 12, each project group will present their final project deliverables in class.

Content (topics)

  • IoT theory, concepts, components and delivery models
  • IoT architecture and topologies
  • Sensors and Actuators in Io
  • IoT Standards and Communication Protocols
  • Fundamentals of Localisation, Aggregation, Clustering and Routing
  • Issues and Challenges in building IoT applications
  • Applications of RFID Technology
  • IoT Security and security standards
  • IoT in Context of Cloud Computing and Analytics
  • IoT and Distributed Data Bases
  • IoT and Augmented Reality

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Project

Intent:

Through this task, students will demonstrate their understanding and learn skills required for the design and implementation of an IoT based solution.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1, D.1 and E.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Assessment task 2: Labs

Intent:

Students are expected to complete weekly lab activities and demonstrate the completed lab work/working programs to the lab tutor.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and D.1

Type: Laboratory/practical
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%

Assessment task 3: Short Quizzes

Intent:

Short 5 minute quizzes aim to assess student understanding of topics covered during the preceding lectures.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%

Assessment task 4: Examination

Intent:

The final exam aims to assess student understanding of topics covered during the entire session.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Required texts

  1. Jan Holler, Vlasios Tsiatsis, Catherine Mulligan, Stefan Avesand, Stamatis Karnouskos, David Boyle, From Machine-to-Machine to the Internet of Things: Introduction to a New Age, Technology & Engineering, 2014.
  2. Daniel Minoli, Building the Internet of Things with IPv6 and MIPv6: The Evolving World of M2M Communications, John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

Recommended texts

  1. Adam Greenfield, Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing, New Riders, 2010.
  2. Wimer Hazenberg & Menno Huisman, Building the Internet of Things - Free Online: http://www.metaproducts.nl/book/introduction/introduction, 2013
  3. Bruce Sterling, Shaping Things, MIT Press, 2005

References

Web Resources on IOT literature:

  1. Editor in Chief: Arjen Oosterman
  2. Divining a Digital Future - Mess and Mythology in Ubiquitous Computing By Paul Dourish, Genevieve Bell
  3. Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life By Rob Kitchin, Martin Dodge
  4. Throughout: Art and Culture Emerging with Ubiquitous Computing Edited by Ulrik Ekman
  5. The Invisible Future: The Seamless Integration of Technology Into Everyday Life Edited by Peter J. Denning
  6. Kindle: SmartStuff: an introduction to the Internet of Things By W. David Stephenson
  7. The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism - Jeremy Rifkin
  8. The Silent Intelligence - The Internet of Things - Daniel Kellmereit, Daniel Obodovski