Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Devices is part of Information and Communication Technology. Below are notes on 12 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers.

Smart Homes

Connected devices for automation, security, and energy management (e.g., smart thermostats, lighting, locks).

Smart Cities

Utilize ICT to enhance liveability, workability, and sustainability. Focuses on smart traffic, waste management, public safety, and environmental monitoring.

Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Automation, predictive maintenance, asset tracking, and quality control in industrial settings.

Healthcare (IoMT)

Remote patient monitoring, wearable devices, asset tracking, and telemedicine.

Smart Agriculture

Precision farming, crop monitoring, livestock tracking, automated irrigation, and dronebased pest/fertilizer application.

Drones in IoT

    • Capable of spraying pesticides on crop fields.
    • Used for inspecting hazardous environments (e.g., active volcanoes).
    • Can collect samples (e.g., breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis).

Intelligent Cameras

    • Principal function: To extract application-specific information from captured images (e.g., object detection, traffic analysis, anomaly detection).
    • Key component in smart surveillance, quality control, and security systems.

GPS (Global Positioning System) Technology

    • Uses satellite ranging techniques for precise three-dimensional coordinates (latitude, longitude, height).

Applications

Military, Navy, Air Force operations; vehicle tracking and immobilization (theft); SOS alarms in emergencies.

Survey Applications

Applied in Topographic, Hydrographic, and Site surveys.

GIS (Geographical Information System)

    • Computerized system for storage, processing, and retrieval of geographically referenced spatial data and attributes.
    • Essential for visualizing and analyzing location-based data from IoT devices.

16. Big Data, Data Analytics, and Cloud

Storage

Practice MCQs: Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Devices

Applications of IoT: Smart Homes, Smart Cities, Industrial IoT (IIoT), Healthcare (IoMT), Smart Agriculture

  1. Consider the following activities : Spraying pesticides on a crop field Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones ?

    Asked in: UPSC IAS 2020

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

    Activity 1: Spraying pesticides on a crop field. Drones equipped with spray tanks and nozzles are increasingly used in agriculture for precision spraying of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides. They can cover fields quickly and accurately, often more efficiently and with less chemical waste than traditional methods. This is a well-established drone application. Correct. Activity 2: Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes. Volcanoes are hazardous environments for humans due to heat, toxic gases, and unpredictable eruptions. Drones can be flown into volcanic craters to collect visual data, thermal imagery, and atmospheric gas samples, providing valuable information for monitoring and research without putting scientists at risk. This is a demonstrated application of drones. Correct. Activity 3: Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis. Researchers use drones to fly over whales and collect samples of the "snot" (exhaled breath and mucus) from their blowholes using collection plates attached to the drone. These samples contain DNA, hormones, and microbiome data, which are crucial for studying whale health and populations. This is a less invasive method compared to traditional biopsy darts and is successfully being used in marine biology. Correct.

  2. Which one of the following is the principal function of an Intelligent Camera ?

    Asked in: UPSC CISF AC EXE 2017

    1. To extract application specific information from the captured images
    2. To take pictures of terrorist movements at night
    3. To take pictures of arms and ammunitions carried by persons
    4. To detect the suspicious goods hidden on the body of an air traveller
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To extract application specific information from the captured images

    Intelligent cameras combine imaging with built-in processing and analysis.

  3. In which of the following area can GPS (Global Positioning System) technology be used – (a) Military operation, Navy operation & Air force operation. (b) Paralyze the vehicle in case of theft. (c) SOS alarm in case of emergency. Select the correct answer -

    Asked in: Asst. Engineer Comb. Comp. Exam 2018

    1. only (a)
    2. (a) & (c) only
    3. (b) & (c) only
    4. All (a),(b) & (c)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. All (a),(b) & (c)

    GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on or near the Earth. Its applications are widespread and continue to expand.

  4. The __________ system technology uses satellite ranging techniques to determine very precisely the three-dimensional co-ordinates of a point on the ground in the form of latitude, longitude and height.

    Asked in: Asst. Town Planner 2022

    1. Geo Polar System
    2. Global Positioning System
    3. Geographic Polar System
    4. Geo Positioning System
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Global Positioning System

    The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses satellite ranging to provide precise geographic coordinates.

  5. GPS is not applied to which of the following surveys?

    Asked in: Asst. Town Planner 2022

    1. Topographic survey
    2. Hydrographic survey
    3. Seismic survey
    4. Site survey
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Seismic survey

    Seismic surveys are not directly applied using GPS for their primary data acquisition, unlike topographic, hydrographic, and site surveys.