diff --git a/week5/Readme.md b/week5/Readme.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ceaeff --- /dev/null +++ b/week5/Readme.md @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +# 🌐 The Internet of Things (IoT) + +## πŸ“‘ What Is IoT? + +The **Internet of Things (IoT)** refers to a network of **interconnected devices** that collect, exchange, and act on data via the Internet. These "things" can include sensors, smart appliances, wearables, and industrial machines β€” essentially any physical object embedded with electronics and network connectivity. + +IoT enables real-time monitoring, automation, and control across various sectors, such as: + +- Smart homes (e.g. smart thermostats, lighting) +- Industrial automation (IIoT) +- Agriculture (smart irrigation) +- Healthcare (wearable health monitors) +- Environmental sensing + +--- + +## βš™οΈ How Devices Fit Into the IoT Ecosystem + +### 🧠 Microcontrollers (MCUs) + +Microcontrollers are **small, energy-efficient computers on a chip**. They are typically used to: + +- **Read sensor data** +- **Control actuators** (like motors, relays, LEDs) +- **Execute simple, real-time tasks** +- **Communicate wirelessly** (if supported) + +#### Common IoT Microcontrollers: +| Device | Key Role in IoT | +|-----------------|-------------------------------------------| +| **Arduino Uno/Nano** | Basic sensors, automation, beginners | +| **ESP32** | Advanced wireless control with Wi-Fi/BLE | +| **Arduino Nano** | Compact, breadboard-friendly microcontroller | + +These devices often run standalone, programmed with simple C/C++ code, and interact directly with the physical world. + +--- + +### πŸ’» Single Board Computers (SBCs) + +SBCs are **full-featured mini computers** capable of running operating systems like **Linux**. In IoT systems, they typically serve as **gateways**, **data processors**, or **user interfaces**. + +#### Popular SBC: +| Device | Role in IoT | +|-------------------|-------------------------------------------| +| **Raspberry Pi** | Local servers, edge computing, dashboards | + +The **Raspberry Pi** is commonly used to: + +- Act as a **hub** or **gateway** for a network of microcontrollers +- Host local databases and dashboards +- Communicate with cloud services (e.g., AWS IoT, Azure IoT) +- Handle complex processing or image recognition tasks + +--- + +## πŸ” SBC + Microcontroller Collaboration + +In many IoT applications, SBCs and microcontrollers **work together**: + +### Example Setup: +- 🧭 **Arduino or ESP32** collects sensor data and controls devices +- πŸ’¬ Sends data to **Raspberry Pi** via serial, MQTT, or Wi-Fi +- πŸ“Š **Raspberry Pi** logs the data, analyzes it, and uploads it to the cloud + +This hybrid approach combines: +- **Real-time, low-power responsiveness** of microcontrollers +- With the **computational power and network versatility** of SBCs + +--- + +## 🧠 Summary + +| Component | Purpose in IoT | +|--------------------|------------------------------------------| +| **Microcontroller**| Simple, real-time control and sensing | +| **SBC (e.g., Pi)** | Processing, cloud communication, UI | +| **Together** | Full-stack edge IoT systems | + +--- + +The IoT thrives on collaboration between simple embedded devices and smarter processing units β€” a perfect example of **hardware synergy** in the modern world. πŸŒπŸ“ΆπŸ’‘