What is it about?This is not a book but an academic article. I chose to feature it on the blog because it really created a "wow" effect while reading it, and I though that some others might want to read it as well.
First of all, the article is not about run-of-the-mill Internet of Things discussion, such as making logistics more efficient by adding some sensors here and there. Instead, the authors outline a logistical system that would adopt, nearly one-to-one, the topological structure, logical setup and general principles of working of the Internet, based on the TCP/IP protocol architecture.
Consequently, whereas in the current Internet, data packets are being routed from origin to destination, in the physical internet, physical objects (cargo-carrying modules of different modularized sizes, to be specific) would be routed using the very same principles.
Was it good?
The article is, I would say, one of the best if not the best I have read for a long time. It is one of those rare articles where the authors put forth a grand idea with quite unambiguous benefits, if implemented.
The main take-away for me?
In addition to the concept of the physical internet - very fascinating indeed - the meta-level take-away for me is that regrettably few academic articles nowadays put forth something truly remarkable, a grand idea. One contributing factor to this may be the ever-increasing "publish or perish" race within academia, but that would require another discussion itself.
Who should read the article?
Especially anyone working with logistics or large infrastructure investments should be very, very interested in what the authors have to say. In additional, computer scientists should be intrigued with the idea as well.
See also the Physical Internet Initiative.
The article: Towards a Physical Internet
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