Implementing IoT in Space
IoT is all around us knowingly or unknowingly. The things we use everyday are connected to each other in one way or the other either via WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN or any similar connectivity. Some of the most commonly encountered 'things' in our everyday life include -
- Cellular phones connected to TVs / Earphones / devices and vice versa
- Wireless RFID based tag scanners in malls and offices with Computers / Servers
- CCTV Cameras with Google Home / Amazon Echo controllers
- Smart Coffee Makers connected to the Internet in a Café
- and so on.
Along with these, there are devices which are connected through Cloud Computing Platforms like Amazon's AWS, Microsoft's Azure or Google's Cloud Platform. Reliance on these devices increases day by day and hence the need for them keeps increasing.
Distress with current IoT devices & their communication -
The total population of these IoT devices will soon soar more than the total human population on Earth and that is when the current networks and connectives will start lagging in connecting and managing them altogether. The more the number of devices that more strengthened their network must be.
Moreover, today's IoT devices face some common issues which hinder their expected usage like Improper Battery Optimization, uncontrolled Heat Levels or Improper Device Handling.
Also, these devices are prone to fail in one way or the other at some point of time due to similar issues. These device's optimization and reliance will surely be improved in the near future for better usage and reliability.
Considering the overall mentioned scenario, it is clear that reliance on IoT devices will rise in near future and hence, connectivity with these devices will also strengthen.
What is IoT in Space like?
Similar issues to the ones mentioned above are not faced by devices which are sent to Space. These devices include Satellites and Autonomous Rovers. Development of these devices is done in such a way that they can sustain toughest conditions in our Solar Systems and can sustain for many years to come, as compared to the devices which we use back on Earth. Also their battery lives depend on mostly Solar or Nuclear Energy which is sufficient to keep them active for years to come.
These devices currently communicate with Earth Stations via NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) which is an international network of antennas. One packet of message to Mars costs more than a hundred dollars using current communicative networks. This is where communication between these devices faces its limitations and hence, we can only communicate with them on the things which are prioritized. Also, communication between those devices is not yet established as it is a work which is still in progress.
Why we need IoT in Space?
Just like IoT has found its applications on Earth in Infrastructure Management, Industrial Applications, Energy Management, Medical & Healthcare Systems, Smart Cities and so on, we can similarly extend its boundaries beyond Earth and find it's applications in Remote Weather Monitoring of Planets, Improving Soil fertility on Planets, Autonomously planning, developing and building Research and Residential facilities on Planets, Making efforts to make life sustainable on other Planets and so on.
This will not only improve our chances to become a multi-planetary species, but also rescue us from the ever increasing problem of growing human population.
"Imagine a space where your coffee is ready to brew before you are awake in your home on Mars. You then hail an autonomous ride for a Job Interview in an office on Jupiter's Europa with your resume. You are been referred for this Job offer by your cousin from Earth's office by the way!"
This is why we need IoT in Space!
Improvising IoT services beyond Earth is a matter of concern which must definitely be discussed more about. IoT in Space is an expanse which still awaits to be Researched, Manufactured & Marketed for.
