2. Transducers
Transducers are devices or systems that can convert one form of energy or signal into
another. In general, a transducer can be defined as any device that converts a physical
quantity or signal into an electrical signal.
Some examples of transducers include:
1.Microphones: convert sound waves into electrical signals.
2.Speakers: convert electrical signals into sound waves.
3.Thermocouples: convert temperature differences into electrical voltages.
4.Photovoltaic cells: convert light into electrical energy.
5.Accelerometers: convert mechanical acceleration into an electrical signal.
Transducers are used in a wide range of applications, including sensors, medical
devices, communication systems, and industrial automation. They are an essential
component of many electronic devices and systems.
3. Sensor Transducer
A sensor is a device that detects a change in a
physical environment.
A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into
another.
A sensor is not necessarily a transducer. Every transducer includes a sensor as a component.
A sensor itself is a component.
Transducer is made of a sensor and a signal conditioning
circuit.
Sensor converts physical quantities or energy into
non-electrical signal.
A transducer converts physical quantity or energy into an
electrical signal.
A sensor requires an additional circuit to process its
output signal into a readable form.
A transducer does not require any processing circuit. Its
output is directly interfaced with a device or display.
A sensor’s output is analog in nature. A transducer can generate analog as well as a digital output.
A sensor’s output cannot be directly applied to any
other system.
A transducer’s output can be directly connected to another
system.
A sensor does not require external power to operate.
A passive transducer requires an external power source to
operate.
A sensor cannot be bidirectional i.e. it only converts
physical quantities into readable form.
A transducer is bidirectional. It can also convert electrical
signal into physical quantities called an inverse transducer.
A sensor is a simple device.
A transducer has a complicated electrical circuit used for
energy conversion.
Examples of sensors are thermometer, pressure Examples of transducers are thermistor, potentiometer,
4. IOT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
An IoT (Internet of Things) development board is a hardware platform that is
designed to provide a convenient and cost-effective way for developers to create
and prototype IoT devices and applications. It typically consists of a
microcontroller or microprocessor, sensors and/or actuators, wireless
connectivity, and various other components required for interfacing with the
physical world and connecting to the internet. They offer a wide range of features
and capabilities, and the choice of the board depends on the specific
requirements of the project.
Wireless connectivity is a critical feature of IoT development boards, allowing
them to connect to the internet and interact with cloud-based services and other
devices. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the most common wireless protocols used, but
some boards also support cellular connectivity, LoRa, and other long-range
wireless technologies.
5. Programming and development environments for IoT development boards vary,
with some boards using familiar programming languages like C++ and Python,
while others may require more specialized languages or development
environments. However, many boards support Arduino IDE, which is an open-
source integrated development environment used for programming Arduino
boards and other compatible microcontrollers.
6. Some popular IoT development boards include:
1. Arduino
1. Open-source electronics prototyping platform
2. The simplest and the beginner’s choice.
3. To create interactively (IoT) electronic applications
4. It is the first microcontroller based development board
5. Easy to program for beginners by Arduino IDE
6. It is available in various form factors, such as the Arduino Uno, Arduino
Nano, and Arduino Mega
7. Set up – procedure:
1.It itself has 0.5KB of the boot loader that makes the program be burned into
the circuit.
2.All we have to play with Arduino is to download the Arduino software and
start the code.
3.The Arduino programs are called sketches
4.Basic Arduino language: C/C++
Advantages:
1.Inexpensive
2.Cross-platform/Multiplatform
3.Flexible and easy prototyping
4.Provides pre-wiring and free code libraries
5.More reliable for hardware applications
8. 2. Raspberry pi
1.Palm-sized computer
2.Constructed with the educational goal
3.Easy even for non-technical user
4.Main storage is by SD card
5.Runs on customized Debian Linux called Raspbian OS
6.Allows installing all packages such as Node.js, Python, and so on.
7.It has 4 USB ports (Universal Serial Bus for data transfer) and 40 GPIO
pins (General Purpose Input/Output pins) to be connected with many
peripheral friends.
8.HDMI port High Definition Multimedia Interface (to transmit audio and video
signals between an HDMI enabled monitor and receiver) to hook
up A/V sources.
9. Set up – procedure:
1.Any one of the bootable operating systems is needed to be written on an
SD card using apps.
2.Then connect the display, keyboard, and mouse to the Pi just like that to
make it a normal computer.
3.The Pi supports video output which can be hooked to a monitor or even TV
using an HDMI port that provides the normal computer’s abilities.
4.Then the necessary action code is done with the help of any specified
applications.
5.Basic Raspi language: python, scratch
10. Advantages:
1.Multiple tasks at a time like a computer
2.Easiest internet connectivity
3.Works on GUI (Graphical User Interface) mode because of HDMI port.
4.Best suited for server-based applications i.e., can be connected
via SSH– Secure Shell-to access the Rpi command line remotely
and file sharing via FTP–File Transfer Protocol.
5.More reliable for software applications.
11. 3. ESP32
A powerful Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled microcontroller that is designed for
IoT applications. It has a dual-core processor, various sensors and
interfaces, and can be programmed using the Arduino IDE or the ESP-IDF
development framework.
4. Particle Photon
An IoT development board that provides cloud connectivity out of the box. It
is based on the STM32 microcontroller and has built-in Wi-Fi, a range of
sensors and interfaces, and can be programmed using the Particle cloud-
based development environment.
12. 5. BeagleBone
A single-board computer that runs a full Linux operating system and
has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. It has a powerful ARM
processor, various sensors and interfaces, and can be used for a wide
range of applications, from robotics to industrial automation.
13. Computer networks that are not connected by cables are called wireless
networks. They generally use radio waves for communication between
the network nodes. They allow devices to be connected to the network
while roaming around within the network coverage.
14. Types of Wireless Networks
1. Wireless LANs − Connects two or more network devices using
wireless distribution techniques.
2. Wireless MANs − Connects two or more wireless LANs spreading
over a metropolitan area.
3. Wireless WANs − Connects large areas comprising LANs, MANs and
personal networks.
Examples of wireless networks
• Mobile phone networks
• Wireless sensor networks
• Satellite communication networks
• Terrestrial microwave networks
15. Advantages of Wireless Networks
1. It provides clutter-free desks due to the absence of wires and cables.
2. It increases the mobility of network devices connected to the system since
the devices need not be connected to each other.
3. Accessing network devices from any location within the network coverage
or Wi-Fi hotspot becomes convenient since laying out cables is not
needed.
4. Installation and setup of wireless networks are easier.
5. New devices can be easily connected to the existing setup since they
needn’t be wired to the present equipment. Also, the number of equipment
that can be added or removed to the system can vary considerably since
they are not limited by the cable capacity. This makes wireless networks
very scalable.
6. Wireless networks require very limited or no wires. Thus, it reduces the
equipment and setup costs.
16. What is a Wi-Fi or wireless network vs. a wired network?
• A wireless network allows devices to stay connected to the network but roam
untethered to any wires. Access points amplify Wi-Fi signals, so a device can
be far from a router but still be connected to the network. When you connect
to a Wi-Fi hotspot at a cafe, a hotel, an airport lounge, or another public
place, you're connecting to that business's wireless network.
• A wired network uses cables to connect devices, such as laptop or desktop
computers, to the Internet or another network. A wired network has some
disadvantages when compared to a wireless network. The biggest
disadvantage is that your device is tethered to a router. The most common
wired networks use cables connected at one end to an Ethernet port on the
network router and at the other end to a computer or other device.
• Previously it was thought that wired networks were faster and more secure
than wireless networks. But continual enhancements to wireless network
technology such as the Wi-Fi 6 networking standard have eroded speed and
security differences between wired and wireless networks.
17. How to deploy a wireless network
1. Centralized Deployment: The most common type of wireless network
system, centralized deployments are traditionally used in campuses where
buildings and networks are in close proximity. This deployment
consolidates the wireless network, which makes upgrades easier and
facilitates advanced wireless functionality. Controllers are based on-
premises and are installed in a centralized location.
2. Converged Deployment: For small campuses or branch offices,
converged deployments offer consistency in wireless and wired
connections. This deployment converges wired and wireless on one
network device—an access switch and performs the dual role of both
switch and wireless controller.
3. Cloud-Based Deployment :This system uses the cloud to manage
network devices deployed on-premises at different locations. The solution
requires Cisco Meraki cloud-managed devices, which provide full visibility
of the network through their dashboards.
