Internet of Things (IoT) Practice Exam

What type of device is a garden light in an IoT system?

1. Sensor

2. Actuator

3. Control

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Actuator

A garden light in an IoT system is classified as an actuator because it is a device that performs a specific action in response to a command from a control system. Actuators are responsible for physically moving or controlling a mechanism, and in the case of a garden light, it responds to commands to turn on or off, adjust brightness, or change colors based on input received from sensors or control units. In contrast, sensors are devices that detect changes in the environment and send information back to the control system, but they do not perform actions by themselves. A control device typically refers to systems that manage or coordinate the operation of sensors and actuators, but it does not execute actions directly like the garden light does. Thus, the garden light's primary role is that of an actuator, making it the correct classification within an IoT framework.