Internet of Things (IoT) Practice Exam

Which example illustrates M2M communication?

1. A sensor on a milking cow indicates she is on heat and the herd manager decides on insemination

2. An ambulance communicates with traffic signals to clear the way during an emergency

3. Sensors on a bridge detect strain and notify the maintenance team

4. A farmer manually checks the cows' health data

The correct answer is: An ambulance communicates with traffic signals to clear the way during an emergency

The choice that illustrates M2M (Machine to Machine) communication involves devices communicating with each other directly without human intervention to perform a specific task or exchange information. In this context, an ambulance communicating with traffic signals exemplifies M2M communication effectively. This scenario depicts a machine (the ambulance) automatically sending data or requests to another machine (the traffic signal system) to facilitate a faster emergency response. Such interactions are a core component of the IoT framework, where devices work together seamlessly to improve efficiency and safety, particularly in high-stakes situations like emergency services. In contrast, the other examples involve various degrees of human intervention. For instance, the sensor on a milking cow indicating her heat cycle involves the herd manager making a decision based on the data, which suggests an input from human judgment. The sensors on a bridge notifying a maintenance team still requires human action to interpret and act on those notifications, and the farmer manually checking the cows' health data is a clear case of human intervention without machine-driven communication. Thus, the ambulance and traffic signals operate independently of human input, aligning perfectly with the concept of M2M communication.