This work combines fiber optic sensors with additive manufacturing to enable integration of temperature and strain sensors in metal components. In this paper, we present a fiber optic sensor network integrated in press hardening tools to monitor the contact between the tool and the metal sheet during forming operation. The tools are manufactured through metal powder bed fusion using laser melting processes (PBF-SLM), after which the tools are prepared for sensor integration. A demonstrator press hardening tool with integrated fiber optic sensors was heated using an electric heat foil and the sensor measurements was compared to a thermal simulation model. The sensor technology is based on Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), integrated at several positions along the optical fiber. FBGs are in-fiber sensors that are multiplexed. lt is possible to place hundreds of FBG sensors along one single fiber, thus allowing for quasidistributed sensing of temperature or strain. The optical fiber itself can be less than 100 micrometer in diameter, allowing for sensing at several points in a minimally invasive way, when integrated in a tool or component.

Research and industry invest time and resources in producing Internet of Things-based services, and the concept of Internet of Things platforms is climbing in the hype cycle for emerging technologies. Consequently, there is a vast number of enabling technologies, making it difficult to find the most suitable platform. The aim and goal of this article is to list and identify the currently available communication platforms for the Internet of Things. In this workwe surveyed the area and found over 128 different platforms for communication of data between things and services, out of which 42 fulfilled our listed basic requirements for being an IoT communication platform.

The increasing interest in Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has driven the need to find a solution to run IPTV and IPv6 outside of a normal public access network. To find new solutions a virtual testbed based on Virtual Private Network (VPN) was built. VPN is a technology that can provide global networking and extended geographic connectivity, also with native security features and good control of the VPN clients. An experimental solution “Virtual Testbed” based on VPN technology to extend provision of IPTV and IPv6 is presented in this paper. This solution allows remote end users over a wider geographical area to participate in IPTV and IPv6 trial since the public network can be used. This also allows researchers an easier access to the test pilots home network and customer premises equipment (CPE), thus makes user behavior research and traffic measurements possible. Evaluation and performance tests on this solution are also illustrated and discussed.

The significant interest in IPTV drives the needs for flexible and scalable IPTV delivery way, especially when distributing IPTV service to end-users who are in a separate network or not in an IPTV enabled network. The recent popularity of VPN has made scalable distribution of IPTV possible. VPN can provide global IPTV networking opportunities and extended geographic connectivity. Additionally, the native traits of VPN also provide secure and controllable service features to IPTV. This paper addresses one important area related to IPTV distribution, namely scalability. We present a novel solution to distribute IPTV via VPN to remote end-users over public networks. The solution allows end-users over a wider geographical area to get IPTV service, and it also reduces operating costs. Traffic measurements and evaluation of services performance are also illustrated and discussed in this paper.