How IoT and Military IoT Technologies Are Transforming the World

Internet of Things (IoT) is an information carrier based on the Internet and traditional telecommunications networks, allowing all independently addressable ordinary physical objects to form an interconnected network. This technology enables the connection of two or more interconnected devices to send and receive information via the Internet. Essentially, it is still the Internet, but instead of computers (PCs, servers) as terminals, it involves embedded computer systems and supporting sensors. With the development of computer network technology, computers serving humanity have integrated into our lives in various forms, such as wearable devices, environmental monitoring devices, virtual reality devices, and so on. In summary, as long as there is hardware or products connected to the Internet and data interaction occurs, it is referred to as the Internet of Things.

Massive IoT describes a network with a large number of connected devices. The significant differences from other types of IoT are reflected in data volume, latency rates, energy consumption, and processing capacity. Devices in Massive IoT collect data and send information back to a central server/cloud. For IoT devices in remote locations, these “things” are generally low-cost, low-power, and relatively “dumb.” For example, agricultural sensors used to collect information in fields, rivers, and forests.

Military IoT (IoMT) enhances situational awareness capabilities for frontline deployed troops, tracks the movement of goods globally, and provides first responders with vital signs of injured personnel. Driven by space technology, IoMT can unify networks, providing incredible beyond-line-of-sight capabilities for combat personnel even in the most severe and contentious environments.

Based on the four processes of information generation, transmission, processing, and application, IoT can be divided into four levels: perception layer, connection layer, management layer, and application layer.

With the surge in the number of applications, IoT has shown diversified, large-scale, and industrial characteristics. The various layers of IoT are both independent and closely linked. At the perception, connection, and management layers, different technologies at the same level complement each other to suit different environments; for different levels, various configurations and combinations of technologies are provided according to application needs, forming a complete technical solution. The choice of technology is guided by specific applications, selecting appropriate sensing technologies, networking technologies, and data information technologies based on specific task requirements and environments.

Currently, Massive IoT is in a period of rapid growth, largely due to advancements in cellular networks. In terms of the number of connections, Juniper Networks estimates that by 2024, the total number of IoT connections will increase from 3.5 billion in 2020 to 8.3 billion. Half of these connections may be from massive IoT. In terms of value, Industry ARC predicts that by 2026, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of Massive IoT will grow by 7.1%, reaching $121.4 billion. The specific key technologies include the following.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is a non-contact automatic identification technology that recognizes target objects and obtains related data through radio frequency signals.

Its main components include read/write tags, readers, and antennas. Among them, electronic tag chips have data memory, which can be used to store identification information of items to be identified; the reader sends electronic signals through the antenna, and when the tag receives the signal, it transmits the identification information stored inside, which the reader then receives and identifies, finally sending the recognition result to the host.

RFID technology has a wide range of applications, such as library magnetic cards, access control systems, and barcodes on medicines and food.

The main driving factor for Massive IoT is the advancement of cellular communication, as any large-scale IoT relies on reliable low-power wide-area network (LP-WAN) technology. A “good” LP-WAN has the following characteristics:

1. Wide coverage: Economically and efficiently connects a large number of devices over long distances;

2. Low power consumption: Connects and manages devices over a long lifecycle;

3. High security: Ensures users that devices and data are not intercepted by malicious actors.

Clearly, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other “short-range” protocols cannot meet these requirements. Therefore, cellular networks with extensive coverage become particularly important.

In the 2010s, 3GPP (the organization responsible for developing standards for the third generation mobile communication systems and subsequent evolution technologies) recognized the need to support low-maintenance, low-power internet devices. In 2016, 3GPP confirmed two new network technologies: Machine Type Communication (LTE-M) and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). There are significant differences between these two standards.

LTE-M, also known as LTE Cat M1, uses the same spectrum and base stations as 4G/LTE, supporting downlink and uplink technologies up to 1 Mbps with a latency of 50-100 milliseconds, making it very suitable for real-time communication. LTE-M has been widely deployed in existing LTE networks. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), as of May 2022, 60 operators have provided LTE-M services.

However, for some users, having NB-IoT (also known as LTE Cat M2) is sufficient. According to GSMA, as of May 2022, 110 operators have launched NB-IoT networks. NB-IoT uses simpler chips and has lower power consumption. It supports a maximum rate of 62.5 kbps and a latency of 1.5-10 seconds. Clearly, it is not suitable for real-time communication, but it is adequate for intermittent data transmission. Therefore, NB-IoT sensors can support battery life of up to 10 years.

The following table compares key data between LTE CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

NO.4

5G Technology

Currently, we are entering the 5G era. It is clear that the ultra-high speed and low latency characteristics of 5G will accelerate the deployment of Massive IoT.

3GPP has agreed to incorporate NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies into the 5G specifications. NB-IoT and LTE-M will coexist with other 5G components in the same network, such as enhanced mobile broadband and critical communications. This means that mobile operators’ investments are protected, and NB-IoT and LTE-M modules will withstand the test of the future.

In the 5G era, NB-IoT and LTE-M networks will be more widespread than ever and will support more devices. This is thanks to unprecedented 5G capacity, which has the following features:

1. Up to 100 times the number of devices connected per unit area compared to 4G LTE;

2. Supports 1 million devices per 0.386 square miles or 1 square kilometer;

3. 99.999% availability ratio;

4. 100% coverage;

5. Network energy consumption reduced by 90%, meaning connected objects can operate for months or years without human assistance;

6. Battery life of low-power IoT devices lasts up to 10 years;

Without changing SIM technology, Massive IoT would not be possible. The plastic SIM cards familiar to smartphone users are not suitable for the IoT world—they are too complex to be inserted into millions of small machines and not robust enough to withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, and vibrations. To meet these conditions, dedicated eSIMs have been developed. They can be soldered into place and activated remotely throughout the device’s lifecycle. Currently, eSIM technology is being improved. They are now more compact, such as the ultra-small MFFXS designed by Thales, suitable for space-constrained situations.

Another new type of SIM card is the iSIM (integrated form of eSIM), planned for launch in 2023. It has already been certified by GSMA, the Trusted Connectivity Alliance, and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. In the device’s system-on-chip (SoC), the iSIM is embedded in a tamper-proof component. It no longer relies on discrete SIM card hardware and can be wirelessly activated using industry security protocols. Its area is less than 1 square millimeter.

GSMA believes that the new SIM card form factor will accelerate the rollout of Massive IoT. Their research found that 83% of enterprises consider eSIMs critical to the success of their IoT deployments. The startup Kaleido predicts that by 2027, over 630 million devices will be compatible with iSIMs, accounting for 19% of all eSIM shipments.

As 5G continues to spread globally, it will provide opportunities for thousands of businesses to undergo digital transformation. By turning “silent” machines into smart nodes on intelligent networks, businesses will save costs, improve efficiency, and create new revenue streams. Massive IoT can be applied in the following scenarios.

IoMT is a way to connect traditional independent networks. It collects and analyzes data from global and space sensors, then provides this data to operators and commanders in the context of the operational environment, allowing them to decide on the next steps. Below are four military use cases of IoMT in the interconnected battlefield.

“Pokémon GO,” as a sensational game, is one of the first popular applications of augmented reality (AR), allowing millions of people worldwide to use smartphone cameras and AR overlays to find items in their physical environment.

For the military, AR headsets currently under development can project important information. This allows soldiers to see real-time information about terrain, weather conditions, and quickly distinguish between friend and foe.

Whether in peacetime or wartime, supporting and maintaining operations often involves manual inventory and transportation tracking to ensure timely replenishment or coordination of critical supplies or activities. As the U.S. military focuses on the Indo-Pacific theater, these logistical challenges will multiply.

Similar to commercial companies using RFID or other smart tracking devices, military logistics experts will benefit from real-time views of inventory and supplies in motion and use game-changing data analytics techniques to better predict and respond to challenges.

Similarly, the U.S. Department of Defense has thousands of miles of base boundaries to defend against threats. Increasing network sensors that detect movement or activity along fence lines can provide earlier warnings to troop protection teams about potential dangers, allowing them to respond more quickly and effectively. Smart bases will be able to utilize these commercial technologies in a super-secure manner, optimizing logistics and planning across the entire base using space-based IoT.

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have transformed the way care is provided to combat casualties, improving survival rates and establishing new standards for medical evacuation within the critical “golden hour” of trauma care. Joint forces can leverage telemedicine technologies to further enhance survival rates, directly connecting battlefield doctors with military health systems that can provide expertise, medical records, and more resources.

IoMT can monitor the vital signs of special forces personnel during critical “golden time,” accelerating medical care and linking on-site medical personnel with life-saving medical information, prioritizing medical resources for faster care, thus achieving better medical outcomes.

Improvements in space connectivity and increasingly mature telemedicine technologies will further enhance the capabilities of battlefield medical personnel under harsh conditions. Battlefield medics will have direct access to high-skilled health experts worldwide. The exchange of patient health records and vital signs can prepare incoming medical evacuation teams and theater hospitals in advance.

As adversaries become increasingly intelligent and targets faster and more mobile, weapon systems to counter these threats need to be flexible and adaptable to sudden changes in targets and dynamic mission requirements.

Space-based communication networks will aid in “joint strike” munitions, enabling the U.S. and its allies to maintain an advantage over complex adversaries, with the ability to reprogram in-flight anywhere to respond to sudden changes in battlefield targets. Shooters using “joint strike” munitions can reprogram or reallocate tasks to munitions in-flight using space-based devices. Munitions can change strike targets based on mission needs.

IoT technology is not a brand new invention but rather an integration and application of technologies such as the Internet, sensing technology, and artificial intelligence. With the help of IoT, people can connect things and issue commands, as well as analyze data and plan actions, thus having enormous development potential and a wide range of application scenarios.

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