IoT Communications (Coursera)

IoT Communications (Coursera)

This course builds on the previous course: IoT Devices. After we have built and programmed a small self-driving vehicle, now it's time get into more advanced territory and enhance the device's connectivity further. To do so you will study radio frequency (RF) communication, the MAC layer, Mesh Networking as well as distributed algorithms for use with geographic locations. These techniques will be applied to your device in the lab, which is composed of four steps, one in each week of the course.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In Week 1, after going over some orientation for the course, you will focus on radio frequency (RF) communication, how it fits in with the larger scope of electromagnetism, how RF signals propagate in physical environments, how RF signals can be used to encode data, and how all this information is useful in constructing resilient and high-bandwidth IoT communication substrates.

Course 2 of 4 in the Hands-on Internet of Things Specialization

This course requires having taken the previous course: IoT Devices.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Overview and Introduction to Radio Frequency Protocols
Welcome to IoT Communications. This course builds on the previous course: IoT Devices. After we have built and programmed a small self-driving vehicle, now it's time get into more advanced territory and enhance the device's connectivity further. To do so you will study radio frequency (RF) communication, the MAC layer, Mesh Networking as well as distributed algorithms for use with geographic locations. These techniques will be applied to your device in the lab, which is composed of four steps, one in each week of the course. In Week 1, after going over some orientation for the course, you will focus on radio frequency (RF) communication, how it fits in with the larger scope of electromagnetism, how RF signals propagate in physical environments, how RF signals can be used to encode data, and how all this information is useful in constructing resilient and high-bandwidth IoT communication substrates.

WEEK 2
Protocols: Media Access Protocol
We will learn about the lowest level of communication protocols in IoT - the MAC layer. This is the layer that deals with all the unpleasant and challenging situations that come about through the use of RF in challenging environments. We will learn about mechanisms to efficiently send and receive data, with low power, discover and pair with other nodes, deal with transmission collisions, and so on.

WEEK 3
Protocols: Mesh Routing
We will talk about mesh networking, a set of techniques that allow wireless devices to work together to discover and maintain working paths to destinations. These techniques enable communication across multiple hops, by having nodes help each other out, routing through multiple layers of intermediate proxies to construct paths to any destination that needs to be reached. The techniques we talk about in this lecture form the foundation for many operations needed to be conducted in IoT, such as dissemination, replication, multicast, service discovery, and so on.

WEEK 4
Protocols: Service Discovery
We will study the next layer up of distributed algorithms that are used in IoT networks. We will continue our exploration of mesh routing, and describe how such techniques can be used to place data at geographic locations, forward in "intermittently-connected" setting, perform multicast, and more.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms (Coursera) Coursera
University of Chicago

Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms (Coursera)

Law

This seven-week course will explore the relationship between law and technology with a strong focus on the law of the United States with some comparisons to laws around the world, especially in Europe. Tech progress is an important source of economic growth and raises broader questions about the human condition, including how culture evolves and who controls that evolution. Technology also matters in countless other ways as it often establishes the framework in which governments interact with their citizens, both in allowing speech and blocking it and in establishing exactly what the boundaries are between private life and the government. And technology itself is powerfully shaped by the laws that apply in areas as diverse as copyright, antitrust, patents, privacy, speech law and the regulation of networks.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems (Coursera)

The explosive growth of the “Internet of Things” is changing our world and the rapid drop in price for typical IoT components is allowing people to innovate new designs and products at home. In this first class in the specialization you will learn the importance of IoT in society, the current components of typical IoT devices and trends for the future. IoT design considerations, constraints and interfacing between the physical world and your device will also be covered. You will also learn how to make design trade-offs between hardware and software. We'll also cover key components of networking to ensure that students understand how to connect their device to the Internet.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Open Source Programming - Master's (Coursera) Coursera
Illinois Tech

Open Source Programming - Master's (Coursera)

Contemporary open-source programming languages and frameworks are presented in this course. Students will consider design and development topics in system, graphical user interface, network, and web programming. Dynamic scripting languages are covered using object-oriented, concurrent, and functional programming paradigms. Concepts gained throughout the course are reinforced with numerous exercises which will culminate in an open-source programming project.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Microwave engineering and antennas (Coursera) Coursera
Eindhoven University of Technology

Microwave engineering and antennas (Coursera)

This unique Master-level course provides you with in-depth know-how of microwave engineering and antennas. The course combines both passive and active microwave circuits as well as antenna systems. Future applications, like millimeter-wave 5G/beyond-5G wireless communications or automotive radar, require experts that can co-design highly integrated antenna systems that include both antennas and microwave electronics. We will provide you with the required theoretical foundation as well as hands-on experience using state-of-the-art design tools. The web lectures are supported by many on-line quizzes in which you can practice the background theory.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
How to Network: Leading Yourself to Lead Others (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

How to Network: Leading Yourself to Lead Others (Coursera)

Life is a relationship business, and the world is our work. Success in today’s complex, dynamic, and unpredictable world depends on our ability to cultivate, nurture, and activate relationships. This course – designed for students, professionals, and executives – will inspire learners to build a networking mindset and harness the power of networking to solve problems, create opportunities, and live out their respective purposes and goals.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Energy Management for IoT Devices (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Energy Management for IoT Devices (Coursera)

Energy Management for IoT Devices is a comprehensive course designed to introduce participants to the integration of energy management techniques within IoT systems. Through a blend of theoretical insights and practical applications, the course equips current and aspiring professionals with a deep understanding of the pivotal role energy management plays in the IoT landscape. Over 4.0 hours, participants will explore various thematic aspects of energy management in IoT, emphasizing real-world applications and skill-building exercises.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for the Raspberry Pi (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for the Raspberry Pi (Coursera)

The Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable single-board computer that you will use to design and develop fun and practical IoT devices while learning programming and computer hardware. In addition, you will learn how to set up up the Raspberry Pi environment, get a Linux operating system running, and write and execute some basic Python code on the Raspberry Pi. You will also learn how to use Python-based IDE (integrated development environments) for the Raspberry Pi and how to trace and debug Python code on the device.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Internet of Things: Multimedia Technologies (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Internet of Things: Multimedia Technologies (Coursera)

Content is an eminent example of the features that contributed to the success of wireless Internet. Mobile platforms such as the Snapdragon™ processor have special hardware and software capabilities to make acquisition, processing and rendering of multimedia content efficient and cost-effective.

Nov 9th 2026
3 Weeks
Internet of Things: How did we get here? (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Internet of Things: How did we get here? (Coursera)

It is hard to imagine life without your Smartphone – you have come to rely on it so much – for your work; to stay in touch with family and friends; to capture and share those special moments; to find your way around in a new neighborhood. Did you ever wonder how and when all this happened? Or how and when GPS sensors came to be in your cell phone?

Nov 16th 2026
2 Weeks
Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera)

Computing applications involving large amounts of data – the domain of data science – impact the lives of most people in the U.S. and the world. These impacts include recommendations made to us by internet-based systems, information that is available about us online, techniques that are used for security and surveillance, data that is used in health care, and many more. In many cases, they are affected by techniques in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Interfacing with the Arduino (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Interfacing with the Arduino (Coursera)

Arduino senses the environment by receiving inputs from add-on devices such as sensors, and can control the world around it by adjusting lights, motors, and other actuators. In this class you will learn how and when to use the different types of sensors and how to connect them to the Arduino. Since the external world uses continuous or analog signals and the hardware is digital you will learn how these signals are converted back-and-forth and how this must be considered as you program your device. You'll also learn about the use of Arduino-specific shields and the shields software libraries to interface with the real world.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks