87206 - Internet of Things T

Learning outcomes

The student will be capable of identifying relevant and business-oriented applications of the IoT, the enabling wireless technologies and platforms, and predict network performance. Ten hours of team working will constitute a conceptual lab where ideas will be shared, compared and assessed under the supervision of the instructor.

Course contents

The syllabus is reported below. More info on the approach to the course can be found on www.robertoverdone.org.

Part I - Introduction (3 hours)

INT.1 IoT: Definition

INT.2 IoT: A Communication Perspective

INT.3 IoT: Application Domains

INT.4 IoT: General Framework

INT.5 The Course

Part II - Fundamental Tools (15 hours)

NFU.1 Fundamentals of Wireless Communications

NFU.2 Fundamentals of Wireless Networks

NMA.1 Fundamentals of Wireless Controlled and Random MAC

NMA.2 Aloha and S-Aloha in Compact Networks

NMA.3 CSMA in Compact Networks

NMA.4 CSMA in Sparse Networks: Hidden and Exposed Node Problem

RNA.1 Radio Network Architectures

EWT.1 Short Range Systems: 802.15.4 and Zigbee

EWT.2 Long Range Systems: LoRa and LoRaWAN

EWT.3 Long Range Systems: NB-IOT

EWT.4 5G

Part III - Making the IoT (3 hours)

APP.1 Preparation to the Lab activities

APP.2 Smart Cities

APP.3 Smart Manufacturing

Part IV - Lab (12 hours)

LHO.1 Hands-on sessions with LoRaWAN

LHO.2 Hands-on sessions with NB-IOT

LHO.3 Hands-on sessions with 5G

Readings/Bibliography

Slidesets made available by the instructor.

Teaching methods

The course is based on chalk-and-talk approach for the first 18 hours. Then, interactive sessions will be proposed in the class for the next 15 hours, to consolidate the conceptual parts via numerical exercises, discussions on real world use-cases, team working sessions.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of two parts: a written test and a discussion of the outcomes of the group work.

The written exam will consist of some numerical exercises, based on the contents of Part I and II of the course, and a closed answer questionnaire with 30 questions. Each question has four answers, one is correct and gives one point, three are wrong and give -0.33; the student can also choose not to answer, scoring zero; the exam is passed if the total score is 18 or more. It is open book, with a duration of 30 minutes. It is held online.

For the discussion the students will provide a five-minute pitch; the pitch will present one of the hands-on activities performed including the numerical achievements. A short discussion will follow in order to determine whether the student has got the main aspects of the thory behind the experience.

The two parts of the exam will be made on the same date. As an exception to the rule, at the end of the course students will be given the chance to pass the written test on a specific date set by the instructor. If passed, the student will be allowed to give the oral exam on any (only one) of the exam dates set before the next teaching semester.

The outcome of the exam is pass or fail.

Teaching tools

Material provided by the instructor: slidesets, links, templates, datasets.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Verdone