Internet of Things : Definition, applications and comparison of wifi-based communication protocols for implementation of an irrigation system

Sammanfattning: The aim of this thesis work has been to explore the state of the art of the Internet of Things, IoT. Focus has been put on the role of communication protocols, or middleware, that enable communication between node and hub in the IoT architecture. A literature study has been carried out, where the state of the art of the IoT has been studied. A comparison of six different pieces of middleware has been made, to use as a reference when choosing between communication protocols for a distributed system. An irrigation system was to be implemented as an example application. It was implemented in the programming language Golang, using Websockets for communication between a standard laptop computer and a Raspberry Pi embedded sensor node. The conclusion of this thesis is that the architecture, hardware and software design for IoT systems all vary greatly depending on the specific demands of the application. Distributed systems, having been used for decades in industrial applications, are now increasingly used in many different fields. A wider adoption and expansion of a standardised and secure IoT has great potential to leverage a moderate investment, increasing efficiency, security and quality of life globally.