StackNet: IoT Network Simulation as a Service

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming all economic sectors by connecting physical assets to the virtual world. The range of low-power connectivity options is continuously widening the range of possible IoT applications. However, too many possibilities often make it hard for industrial specialists to choose the right technology and configuration settings, yet these are crucial decisions. To deeply analyze and compare the performance and the scalability of various solution designs, one proven method is simulation. In this article, we show how IoT network simulation can help to future-proof an IoT connectivity design, without the burden of installing a lot of hardware and writing complicated scripts. Then, as the network simulation process is too complex for most IoT teams, we propose a no-code online IoT network simulation platform to make this powerful tool accessible to all. In particular, we explain how we hide the simulation workflow complexity via relevant abstractions and transform it into intuitive interactions. We illustrate the method and the usage of this promising approach, which can be integrated in a network digital twin. We show how it permits to easily evaluate what-if scenarios in order to answer a set of questions that may arise all along the life cycle of a smart connected solution.

I. Introduction

The Internet of Things, or IoT, defined as the convergence of the digital and physical worlds, is a fundamental pillar of the digitization of industrial enterprises and is becoming the beating heart of their operations. Amongst popular IoT solutions, we can list asset tracking for smarter transportation, smart building for more energy-efficient commercial areas, predictive maintenance for Industry 4.0, smart metering for efficient utilities, or video-surveillance for safer cities.