The Internet of Things Magazine (IoTM) publishes peer-reviewed papers on end-to-end IoT solutions. IoTM papers are written by and for practitioners and researchers interested in practice and applications, such as corporate engineers working to design and deploy IoT applications every day. The technical focus of IoTM is the multi-disciplinary, systems nature of IoT solutions.

Special Issue on Ambient Internet of Things and Near-Zero Energy Communications
Submission Date: 2024-08-15

In recent years, Internet of Things (IoT) has attracted much attention aiming at interconnecting more ‘things’ for various applications to gain productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. In today’s IoT networks, IoT devices commonly rely on batteries with a finite lifespan that needs to be replaced or recharged manually. Given the expanding number of IoT devices, the necessity for battery replacement or recharge significantly escalates maintenance costs, environmental concerns, and even safety risks for some use cases. This will challenge the widespread adoption and proliferation of IoT solutions. For the sustainable development of IoT ecosystems, a new paradigm of Ambient IoT has emerged to actualize near-zero energy communications. Ambient IoT are battery-less devices (or with limited energy storage, yet no need for replacement or recharge) with ultra-low complexity and ultra-low power consumption to enable a variety of new applications.

Recognizing the potential of low-cost, low-complexity, and battery-free IoT devices, 3GPP, IEEE, and Bluetooth have recently explored the feasibility of integrating such devices into their ecosystems. Key enabling technologies driving Ambient IoT are energy harvesting, ambient backscattering communications, and low-power computing. Specifically, ambient backscattering communications, which rely on passive reflection and modulation of an incident radio-frequency (RF), makes signal modulation and transmission viable, even when operating from limited harvested energy. Despite the potentials, the implementation of Ambient IoT still faces significant challenges. These include ensuring a stable power supply from intermittently harvested energy sources, meeting communication needs with limited harvested energy, facilitating the connection of a large number of Ambient IoT devices, and addressing concerns related to user privacy and security.

This Special Issue (SI) endeavors to explore pioneering advancements, innovations, and challenges in creating ambient IoT devices that operate with minimal to zero external power sources. By tapping into ambient energy and leveraging energy-efficient technologies, such as backscatter communications, ambient IoT holds the promise of revolutionizing the landscape of connected and sustainable smart environments.

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to:

- Exploring New Air Interfaces, i.e., Frequency Bands, Waveforms, Modulation Schemes, and Uplink/Downlink Multiple Access Protocols, for Ambient IoT.
- Low-complexity Signal Detection and Channel Coding for Ambient IoT.
- AI/Machine Learning Applications for Ambient IoT.
- Lightweight Communications and Signalling Protocols for Ambient IoT.
- Optimization of Communication Protocols for Ambient IoT.
- Architecture Enhancement for Ambient IoT devices.
- Spectrum Sharing Techniques for Ambient IoT Networks.
- Scalability and Network Management for Massive Ambient IoT Deployment.
- Latency, Data Rate, and Link Reliability Studies for Ambient IoT.
- Energy Harvesting and Energy Storage Solutions for Ambient IoT.
- Device Complexity and Power Consumption Solutions for Ambient IoT.
- Coverage, Device Density, and Interference Analysis.
- Device mobility and Positioning Solutions for Ambient IoT.
- Interoperability and Integration to Existing Wireless Systems and Standardization Efforts.
- Comparison with Existing Low-Power IoT Solutions (NB-IoT, LTE-M, LoRa, SigFox, RFID, etc.).
- Authentication, Provisioning, and User Privacy Tailored for Ambient IoT.
- Security Mechanisms for Ambient IoT.
- Deployment Scenarios, Use cases, and Services for Ambient IoT.
- Analysis, Simulation, and Testbeds for Ambient IoT. 

Special Issue on The Internet of Military Defense Things (IoMDT): State-of-the-Art, Challenges, Future Evolution, and Revolutionary Applications
Submission Date: 2024-09-30

The widespread adoption of technology, such as cloud computing, mobile communication, sensor networks, and artificial intelligence, poses significant challenges and opportunities for military defense and national security. In the current technological landscape, the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has the potential to greatly enhance capabilities and fundamentally change the speed, scale, adaptability, and efficiency of defense and national security operations. The adoption of IoT will enhance situational awareness by connecting various components, such as soldiers, military vehicles, ships, tanks, aircrafts, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

However, the defense and national security environments, such as patrolling battlefields along safeguarding borders, surveillance, and providing advanced military training, pose particular difficulties. Moreover, the increasing diversity and interconnectivity of networked components, including combat attire, helmets, weaponry, and other equipment, that collect and transmit instantaneous data to military bases, present additional complexities for military defense and national security systems.

In order to tackle these challenges, it is crucial to develop innovative and practical methods that can accurately depict the present situation, understand emerging trends, and offer predictive analytics in a wide range of defense and national security contexts that are constantly evolving.  Achieving success in military operations relies heavily on possessing capabilities that facilitate dominance through technological adaptability, consistent speed, and a holistic, intelligent, autonomous, secure, and tactical system that surpasses the combined effectiveness of its individual components while also overcoming the constraints of inter-human communication and cognition.  In light of the above, it becomes evident that the distinct characteristics of military defense and national security environments present significant obstacles for IoT systems, distinguishing them from their civilian counterparts.

First and utmost, any failure or compromise may be life threatening and/or highly destructive. Second, IoT systems operating in hostile environmental contexts similar to those mentioned above, are prone to hoax as well as to repetitive physical and cyber-attacks. Under such circumstances, adversaries’ often devastating unforeseen locations may compromise IoT systems and exploit potential opportunities to intensify resulting damages. To this end, commercially available communication devices, networks, and cloud data centers are doomed to become unreliable. Disruption tolerance, data losses, and struggles to maintain connectivity in continuously and rapidly changing heterogeneous battle scenes are the rule rather than the exception. As such, IoT systems for military operations and national security are required to exhibit high flexibility, dynamism, and adaptability; hence, capable of incorporating additional devices, communication networks, and their protocols and standards in a real-time manner.

IoT Magazine is soliciting high-quality, novel, innovative, and impact-oriented manuscripts that: a) describe in depth and/or breadth real-world military defense and national security IoT deployments, applications and technologies that align with the above-elaborated special issue, b) present actual experiences in analyzing the benefits of IoT and resolving contextual defense and national security-related challenges, c) develop and share best practices, vision realizations and lessons learned from IoT deployments in such environments, and d) establish guiding principles for technical, experimental, and operational successes. Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to:

    Security and Privacy in IoMDT: Addressing issues in securing military smart bases and IoT networks, including encryption, authentication, intrusion detection, and cyber threat countermeasures in battlefield environments.
    IoT in Military Logistics: Explore how IoT is enhancing military logistics, including supply chain management, asset tracking, and real-time equipment, vehicle, and resource monitoring.
    IoT-Enabled Surveillance and Reconnaissance: Discuss the role and new capabilities of IoT devices, such as UAVs, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), autonomous robots, sensors, and cameras, in enhancing military surveillance, reconnaissance, and situational awareness capabilities.
    IoMDT for Soldier Enhancement: Explore how IoT devices and wearables are being used to enhance soldier performance, safety, and health on the battlefield.
    IoMDT for Soldier Training: Investigate XR/VR/AR IoT devices for the utilization of real-and-virtual integrated settings and develop effective training simulations for military personnel in special missions.
    Energy-Efficient IoMDT: Discuss energy-efficient IoT solutions for military applications, such as optimizing power usage in remote sensors and IoT devices to extend mission duration.
    Edge Computing in Military IoT: Explore the use of edge computing in military IoT systems to process data closer to the source, reducing latency and improving real-time decision.
    AI and Machine Learning in IoMDT: Examine how artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms are being applied to military IoT data for Valuable Vehicle or Human Identification, Unmanned Vehicle Control, intercepted communications translation, improvised explosive device detection, improving the efficiency of logistics operations, predictive analytics, anomaly detection, emergency response, and autonomous decision-making.
    Interoperability and Standards: Discuss the importance of interoperability and standards in IoMDT systems to ensure seamless integration of devices and data across different military branches and allied forces.
    Ethical and Legal Considerations: Explore the ethical and legal implications of deploying IoT technologies in military contexts, including data privacy, accountability, and adherence to international laws of armed conflict.
    Case Studies and Deployments: Share real-world case studies and deployments of IoMDT systems in military operations, highlighting their effectiveness and lessons learned.
    Resilience and Robustness: Discuss strategies for making IoMDT systems resilient to physical and cyberattacks, anti-jamming, GPS denied environments, Adversarial AI in IoMDT, ensuring they can operate in adverse conditions and withstand hostile actions.
    Human-Machine Teaming: Explore the evolving role of humans in military IoT systems, emphasizing the importance of effective human-machine collaboration and trust-building.
    Environmental Monitoring, Adaptation and Safety: Highlight how IoT sensors are used for environmental monitoring and adaptation, including tracking climate changes, predicting natural disasters, and optimizing military responses as well as ensuring public safety.
    IoMDT in Urban Warfare: Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of deploying IoT technologies in urban warfare scenarios, where densely populated environments present complex challenges.
    Future Trends and Innovations: Discuss IoMDT trends like 5G, 5G+, and 6G mobile network integrations, satellite, and terrestrial network integrations (Space-Air-Ground-Sea Integrated Networks), hypersonic weapon communication, quantum encryption, and bio-inspired IoT technologies for tactical, military, and emergency applications.

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the IEEE Internet of Things Magazine standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Article Submission Guidelines. All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through the IEEE Author Portal. Select “Q1’25/ The Internet IoMDT: State-of-the-Art, Challenges, Future Evolution, and Revolutionary Applications” from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submissions Start: 1 March 2024
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 September 2024
First Round of Review Deadline: 30 October 2024
Authors’ Revision Deadline: 30 November 2024
Final Decision Notification: 15 December 2024
Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 December 2024
Publication Date: First Quarter 2025

Guest Editors

Maurice J. Khabbaz (Lead Guest Editor)
American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Abdellah Chehri (Co-Lead Guest Editor)
Royal Military College of Canada

Holger Claussen
Tyndall National Institute, Ireland

Nhien-An Le-Khac
University College Dublin, Ireland

Van-Linh Nguyen
National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan

Benoit Debaque
Thales Communications and Security SAS, Canada

Special Issue on Internet of Things and Edge Computing Meet Green Challenges
Submission Date: 2024-10-15

This Special Issue (SI) considers the intersections of rapid technological advancements of Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing and the urgent need for environmental sustainability. This theme explores how IoT and edge computing can be harnessed to address ecological issues, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable practices across various sectors. The relevant topics may include:

    Environmental Sustainability: With climate change and environmental degradation posing significant challenges, there is a pressing need to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainable practices. IoT and edge computing offer innovative ways to monitor and manage energy usage, resource consumption, and environmental impacts more efficiently.
    Energy Efficiency: The global surge in energy consumption demands more sustainable energy solutions. IoT devices and edge computing systems can optimize energy use in industries, buildings, and homes, contributing to substantial energy savings and reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
    Resource Optimization: Efficient resource management is crucial for sustainability. By leveraging IoT for real-time data collection and analysis, and edge computing for processing this data locally, resources such as water, electricity, and raw materials can be used more judiciously, minimizing waste.
    The integration of IoT and edge computing in green technologies encourages innovation in renewable energy, smart agriculture, and waste management, among others, paving the way for more sustainable economic development.

The research of IoT and edge computing have evolved significantly recently, driven by advancements in sensor technologies, data analytics, and computing power. IoT involves the interconnection of uniquely identifiable devices within the existing Internet infrastructure, offering automated control and data collection capabilities. Edge computing refers to data processing at or near the source of data generation, rather than relying solely on centralized data processing centers. This reduces latency, saves bandwidth, and improves response times. The convergence of IoT and edge computing has opened up new avenues for tackling environmental challenges. For instance, in smart cities, IoT devices can monitor air quality, traffic conditions, and energy use in buildings, while edge computing can process this data locally to provide instant feedback and control actions. This synergy not only enhances operational efficiencies but also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promotes resource conservation.

There have been global priorities for sustainable development and the urgent need to address environmental challenges through innovative technological solutions. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a global agenda for sustainable growth, including urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG 13), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9). The focus on IoT and edge computing as tools to meet green challenges directly supports these goals by showcasing how technology can lead to sustainable solutions across industries. As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, there is a pressing need for innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and promote the sustainable use of resources. IoT and edge computing offer significant opportunities in this regard, from optimizing energy use in smart buildings and cities to reducing waste through smarter logistics and supply chains. The SI can highlight cutting-edge research and case studies demonstrating these technologies' impact on sustainability. The SI can showcase the latest trends and emerging technologies at the intersection of IoT, edge computing, and sustainability. Topics might include advances in energy-efficient sensor networks, the use of AI and machine learning for environmental monitoring and analysis, and the development of sustainable IoT infrastructures. Highlighting these areas can guide future research and investment priorities.

This SI seeks to explore innovative approaches, methodologies, and technologies under the context of IoT and edge computing meeting green challenges. This SI invites cutting-edge research that not only pushes the technological envelope but also contributes to a sustainable future.

This SI welcomes submissions on topics including but not limited to:

    Green and energy-efficient IoT and relevant systems such as connected vehicles, industrial IoT, and smart cities.
    Green and sustainable edge computing models.
    6G research issues relevant to green and sustainable IoT and/or edge computing.
    Renewable energy solutions for IoT and/or edge computing infrastructures.
    IoT and edge computing supporting green computing or green development.
    Big data for green and sustainable IoT and/or edge computing.
    Lifecycle assessments and e-waste management strategies for IoT and/or edge computing components.
    Sustainable networking and communication protocols for IoT and/or edge computing.
    AI/machine learning approaches for energy or resource optimization in IoT and/or Edge Computing.
    Green Edge computing Infrastructure for large scale AI and machine learning.
    Case studies on the deployment of green IoT and/or edge computing solutions in various sectors (such as healthcare, urban infrastructure, agriculture).
    Security and privacy concerns in green IoT and/or edge computing ecosystems.
    New sustainability metrics in IoT and/or edge computing context.
    Secure and energy-efficient communication protocols for IoT devices at the edge.
    Energy-efficient cryptographic algorithms for IoT devices at the edge.
    Secure and efficient edge computing architectures for IoT applications.
    Green security: balancing energy efficiency and security in IoT and/or edge computing.
    Policies, standards, and frameworks for promoting sustainability in IoT and/or edge computing.

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the IEEE Internet of Things Magazine standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Article Submission Guidelines. All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through the IEEE Author Portal. Select “Q2’25/ Internet of Things and Edge Computing Meet Green Challenges” from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submissions Start: 15 June 2024
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 October 2024
First Round of Review Deadline: 15 December 2024
Authors’ Revision Deadline: January 15 2025
Final Decision Notification: 15 February 2025
Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 March 2025
Publication Date: Second Quarter 2025

Guest Editors

Jinsong Wu (Primary Lead Guest Editor)
University of Chile, Chile

Xianfu Chen (Secondary Lead Guest Editor)
Shenzhen CyberAray Network Technology Company Ltd, China 

Hong Wen
University of Electronics and Science of China, China

Brij Gupta
Asia University, Taiwan

Ranga Rao Venkatesha Prasad
Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands

Mostafa M. Fouda
Idaho State University, USA

Lei Zhong
Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Charilaos Zarakovitis
Axon Logic, Greece

Special Issue on Empowering People with Disabilities using IoT and Human-Centered Technologies
Submission Date: 2024-12-15

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people, which represents about 16% of the global population, are presently living with some form of disability. Sadly, these individuals are also at higher risk of discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, violence, and abuse. Thankfully, global initiatives are rising to this challenge. The United Nations has set a target to foster social, economic, and political inclusion for all by 2030, regardless of factors such as disability. Similarly, the European Commission’s Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 seeks to achieve the full participation and non-discrimination of people with disabilities in society.

To face these challenges and ensure a welcoming and accessible society for everyone, investing in human-centered technologies is paramount. The Internet of Things (IoT) offers transformative potential for empowering individuals with disabilities. Technologies designed with the active input from IoT sensors and engagement of disabled communities can lead to the creation of Human-centered solutions that are inclusive and adaptive to various needs. For instance, IoT can enhance physical environments to be more accessible through smart home systems that allow for voice-activated or remotely controlled management of appliances, doors, and lighting, reducing physical barriers. Wearable IoT devices can also aid in real-time health monitoring and emergency response, ensuring that people with disabilities receive timely medical attention when necessary. Furthermore, IoT can facilitate better communication and interaction with technology via customized interfaces that adapt to the physical and sensory capabilities of users, such as gesture recognition systems for those unable to use traditional input devices.

Through a human-centered strategy and investments in IoT devices within everyday objects and environments, we can significantly enhance the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities, creating a more inclusive society. This approach unlocks innovative solutions for collaborative environments, empowering individuals with disabilities to promote their rights and opportunities. Ultimately, by embracing this transformative approach, we tap into the varied talents and contributions of every member, leading to increased stability, balance, and sustainability for all.

This Special Issue (SI) aims to bring together researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals to contribute their ideas and work on the topic of empowering people with disabilities through IoT and human-centered technologies. Subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to:

    Sensor technology and computer processing algorithms, to improve safety, mobility, communication, and activities of daily living, etc.
    Tracking technologies and wearable IoT devices, to enhance data collection processes and improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
    Accessible human-machine interfaces, featuring voice-controlled interfaces, alternative control devices, and adaptive user interfaces that learn and adapt to individual needs.
    Studies on the social implications of implementing IoT and human-centered technologies for individuals with disabilities.
    Real-world case studies and applications of human-centered communication technologies.
    Cloud-based technologies for telehealth, remote care, collaborative learning, and working platforms.
    Human-robot collaboration into healthcare, education, and workplaces for assistive and caregiving roles.
    Use digital twins to simulate accessibility in the design of buildings, spaces, and products.

Researchers are invited to publish their experimental and theoretical results in detail. Submissions should align with the outlined topics and seek to spark meaningful discussions on the role of technology in fostering a more inclusive society.
Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the IEEE Internet of Things Magazine standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Article Submission Guidelines. All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through the magazine’s IEEE Author Portal site. Select the appropriate issue date and topic from the “Please Select an Article Type” drop-down menu.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submissions Start: 1 August 2024
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 December 2024
First Round of Review Deadline: 31 January 2025
Authors’ Revision Deadline: 14 February 2025
Final Decision Notification: 28 February 2025
Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 7 March 2025
Publication Date: May 2025

Guest Editors

Nagham Saeed (Lead Guest Editor)
School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, UK

Carolina Lagartinho Oliveira
NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal

Abdellah Chehri
Royal Military College of Canada, Canada

Gwanggil Jeon
Incheon National University, South Korea