UNIT 19: THE INTERNET OF
THINGS
LEARNING AIM B, C 30193708
, Learning Aim B, C
Introduction
For this Assignment, the scenario is that I recently started work as an IT technician in the technical department of a small
company that specializes in security systems and burglar alarms. The director of the company is interested in
investigating if the company could make use of IoT technologies in its products and services. My manager has asked me
to develop a prototype system which uses this technology.
I will be using a Raspberry Pi microcomputer so that I can set it up to send alerts through email to the homeowner as
well as record a 60 second video when motion gets detected.
I am going to set up a Raspberry Pi, attach a camera and a motion sensor to it and produce a code that will send an email
alerting the homeowner that movement has been detected. I will explain the structure of the code and justify my
decisions for using it.
Making Decisions
To meet the alarm company’s requirements, which are to develop a IoT security system that can detect motion, record
video and notify the user by email, I have decided to use a microcomputer called Raspberry Pi. By using this computer, I
can create a suitable IoT security system that achieves the requirements listed above.
Evaluating Decisions Made
Raspberry Pi is a microcomputer computer that plugs into a monitor or a TV and uses a USB keyboard and mouse. It has
the necessary computing power to run an OS and allows for code to be easily scripted because it runs on Linux. It also
has accessories that will support the security system, such as a camera module, push buttons, breadboard support, PIR
sensor. These accessories are easy to install and implement into code with the Raspberry Pi.
Since the alarm company wants to improve on their security systems by using IoT devices that connect to the internet,
the Raspberry Pi is the most suitable option as it connects to the internet and can be programmed to do specific tasks
such as, sending email alerts to the users.
Identifying Alternatives
There are alternative microcomputers that can achieve the alarm company’s requirements. Another microcomputer
similar to Raspberry Pi is Orange Pi. It is an open-source computer powered by Linux. There is onboard internet
connectivity that allows for the use of 4 CPU cores. It can run in any operating system and connect to the internet.
Orange Pi single board computers are cheaper than Raspberry Pi computers and they work well with different operating
systems such as windows. They also support coding and running scripts the same way Raspberry Pi can, depending on
what operating system is installed.
Downsides of using Orange Pi is that the software support isn’t very good, so a lot of bugs and crashes happen. There
are also a lot of heating issues with it, so the system can shut down if all the cores are used. This makes it unreliable and
too risky for the alarm company to use. The Orange Pi also doesn’t have supported accessories like motion sensors and a
camera, meaning that third party accessories would have to be used in order to develop a solution for the alarm
company. This can lead to more crashes and make it more unreliable for users to use.
Justifying Decisions Made
Raspberry Pi microcomputer is the most suitable IoT device to use for the alarm company. It supports the necessary
accessories like a camera and motion sensor as well as it is easy to use and very reliable. Because it uses a Linux
operating system it will allow me to program a code that will detect movement using the motion sensor and record a 60
second video, that will get sent to the users email account, notifying them that an intruder might be in the house. This is
THINGS
LEARNING AIM B, C 30193708
, Learning Aim B, C
Introduction
For this Assignment, the scenario is that I recently started work as an IT technician in the technical department of a small
company that specializes in security systems and burglar alarms. The director of the company is interested in
investigating if the company could make use of IoT technologies in its products and services. My manager has asked me
to develop a prototype system which uses this technology.
I will be using a Raspberry Pi microcomputer so that I can set it up to send alerts through email to the homeowner as
well as record a 60 second video when motion gets detected.
I am going to set up a Raspberry Pi, attach a camera and a motion sensor to it and produce a code that will send an email
alerting the homeowner that movement has been detected. I will explain the structure of the code and justify my
decisions for using it.
Making Decisions
To meet the alarm company’s requirements, which are to develop a IoT security system that can detect motion, record
video and notify the user by email, I have decided to use a microcomputer called Raspberry Pi. By using this computer, I
can create a suitable IoT security system that achieves the requirements listed above.
Evaluating Decisions Made
Raspberry Pi is a microcomputer computer that plugs into a monitor or a TV and uses a USB keyboard and mouse. It has
the necessary computing power to run an OS and allows for code to be easily scripted because it runs on Linux. It also
has accessories that will support the security system, such as a camera module, push buttons, breadboard support, PIR
sensor. These accessories are easy to install and implement into code with the Raspberry Pi.
Since the alarm company wants to improve on their security systems by using IoT devices that connect to the internet,
the Raspberry Pi is the most suitable option as it connects to the internet and can be programmed to do specific tasks
such as, sending email alerts to the users.
Identifying Alternatives
There are alternative microcomputers that can achieve the alarm company’s requirements. Another microcomputer
similar to Raspberry Pi is Orange Pi. It is an open-source computer powered by Linux. There is onboard internet
connectivity that allows for the use of 4 CPU cores. It can run in any operating system and connect to the internet.
Orange Pi single board computers are cheaper than Raspberry Pi computers and they work well with different operating
systems such as windows. They also support coding and running scripts the same way Raspberry Pi can, depending on
what operating system is installed.
Downsides of using Orange Pi is that the software support isn’t very good, so a lot of bugs and crashes happen. There
are also a lot of heating issues with it, so the system can shut down if all the cores are used. This makes it unreliable and
too risky for the alarm company to use. The Orange Pi also doesn’t have supported accessories like motion sensors and a
camera, meaning that third party accessories would have to be used in order to develop a solution for the alarm
company. This can lead to more crashes and make it more unreliable for users to use.
Justifying Decisions Made
Raspberry Pi microcomputer is the most suitable IoT device to use for the alarm company. It supports the necessary
accessories like a camera and motion sensor as well as it is easy to use and very reliable. Because it uses a Linux
operating system it will allow me to program a code that will detect movement using the motion sensor and record a 60
second video, that will get sent to the users email account, notifying them that an intruder might be in the house. This is
