Enhancing asset security by integrating Internet of Things on non-powered assets

Abstract

Rapid proliferation of the internet of things has helped solve a myriad of problems across different sectors. Whilst powered assets rely on their own power source to enhance asset monitoring, a need exists to develop an asset security system for nonpowered assets. Since an IoT device has network layers, it can be used with the physical layer to solve this problem. As a result, a method of enhancing asset security with IoT was implemented. A GSM chip for SMS and server connection was used to communicate the battery status and location information obtained from a GPS chip. A method of detecting tamper on the device was implemented through infrared sensors. A microcontroller was the heart of the system as it interfaced with all other devices to form the IoT system. The result of the study was an efficient prototype of an IoT asset tracking device which communicates through SMS and it logs location data to a remote server through GPRS connection. There is room for improvement in terms of optimizing power consumption to lengthen the duration before a recharge is required.