Internet of Things Architecture

A different case is truly smart objects, i.e., intelligent devices that have
embedded logic seemingly able to act autonomously. In this case, the
Augmented Entity is the smart object itself, and the associated Virtual Entity is
an Active Digital Artefact, namely, the embedded logic (e.g., the software
agent).

IoT Domain Model::

Augmented Entity

IoT Domain Model::

Physical Entity

Active Digital Artefact

Digital Artefact

IoT Domain Model::

Virtual Entity

UAV Controller :

Virtual Entity

Unmanned Aerial

Vehicle :Augmented

Entity

UAV Body :Physical

Entity

1

1..*

1

1

1..*

relates to

1

controls

«is instance of»

«is instance of»

«is instance of»

Figure 83 : Smart-object pattern. UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Figure 83 shows an example of a smart object: an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV). The body of the UAV can be considered the Physical Entity, while the
UAV controller is the related Virtual Entity. Together they form the Augmented
Entity, the smart object.

Modelling

Rule 2

When modelling an autonomous object, an Augmented

Entity is used, consisting of a device (Physical Entity) and its

software controller (Virtual Entity).