autonomously i.e. without any explicit external command. They independently
collect information and exchange them proactively with other IoT devices within
the network. The gathered data are analyzed in runtime or later either manually or
by the machine to infer information. The applications of IoT have been seen in the
wide range of domains such as manufacturing sector, logistic, transporta tion,
agriculture, medical and healthcare, home and building automation, smart grid,
service sector, etc. The advancements in technologies that have led to cheap sen-
sors, cheap processing, and cheap bandwidth with ubiquitous wireless coverage and
smartphones, have provided an effective ground for IoT to harvest information from
the environment and interact with the physical world [4]. This has abetted in
minimizing the gap between the physical objects and the cyber world, which has
made easier to control these devices. In short, by means of the ubiquitously and
universally connected devices, IoT has taken us to the new possibilities of a smart
world for a smart living.
2.2 IoT and Automation
Earlier, we stated that the motto of IoT is to connect everything wherever possible.
But why do we need to connect all the things? The answer is very clear and simple
—to automate. As we pointed out in the last section that improved relations
between the physical objects and the cyber world with intensified connectivity have
allowed us to control these devices better and more effortlessly. Indeed, a sense of
automation came into the picture.
The advantageous aspects of IoT have led industries/businesses to take IoT as a
new step towards automation empowering centralized controlling and management
[5]. The IoT-based automation can reduce the operational cost, as compa red to the
manual procedure, through automated control and management of isolated and
independent devices by connect ing and making them communicate with each other
[6].
In the manufacturing plants, IoT has immense potential for automation for more
responsive and effective operations. Smooth communication among devices like
sensors, actuato rs, analyzers, and robots enhances the manufacturing performance
and flexibility [3]. The data obtained from these devices can be used for governi ng
equipment status, energy management, condit ion monitoring, load balancing,
tracking and tracing systems, etc. [3]. Integrating these data with the ERP system
can take the automation in the organization to a ‘never achieved before’ level
through real-time observation of the overall operation and production process. If
required, machines communicate to each other to adapt to changed conditions even
without any centralized controlling [3].
IoT integration and tracking goods for delivery using GPS and RFID tech-
nologies automate the supply chain management. Logistic service can be automated
and controlled centrally through continuous monitoring of the location, expected
4 P. K. D. Pramanik et al.