IoT Sensor Working and Its

Applications
The term IoT stands for Internet of Things and it is the most significant as
well as promising technology nowadays. Some of the researchers in the
market estimated that there are a billion devices are connected with
sensors like wearables, smartphones, etc. Currently, every sensor plays an
essential role in the Internet of Things. These sensors are mainly used for
detecting or monitoring the quality of air, health status, home security, etc.
Similarly, these sensors are used in IoT for monitoring the process of
production, so named as IoT sensor. Because of these reasons, one has to
know about its importance, working, and its usage to obtain information.

What is an IoT Sensor?

There are different types of sensors available in the market which is used for
different applications like to collect the data from the environment. In an IoT
ecosystem, there are two main things we have to consider like the internet
& the physical devices such as actuators & sensors. The sensor and
network connectivity in the IoT mainly located in the bottom layer. The main
function of this is to collect the information. This bottom layer in the IoT is a
very important part, and it includes connectivity of network to next layer like
the gateway & network layer.

internet-of-things
The main function of these sensors is to gather information from the
surroundings. The connection of these to IoT can be done directly
otherwise indirectly once the conversion of signal & processing is done. All
the sensors are not similar because different IoT applications need different
kinds of sensors. For example, the interfacing of digital sensors with a
microcontroller with the help of SPI bus (Serial Peripheral Interface). Although
for analog sensors, either ADC otherwise Sigma-Delta modulator can be
applicable for changing the data into SPI o/p.
Types of IoT Sensors
The different types of IoT sensors available in the market. Here is the IoT
sensors list with its working is discussed below.

Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor is used to detect the heat energy which is produced
from an object otherwise nearby area. These sensors are applicable for the
Internet of Things (IoT), which includes from manufacturing to farming. The
main role of these sensors in manufacturing is for temperature monitoring
of machines. Similarly, in the agriculture field, these sensors are used to
monitor the temperature of plants, soil, and water.

temperature-sensor
Temperature sensors are thermistors, thermocouples, ICs (integrated
circuits), and RTDs (resistor temperature detectors). The applications of
temperature sensors mainly include refrigerators, ACs, etc.

Smoke Sensor
Smoke sensors have been using in various applications like homes,
industries, etc. These sensors are very convenient as well as easy to use
by the arrival of the Internet of Things. Also, by adding a wireless
connection to smoke detectors, the additional features can be enabled to
increase security & ease.

smoke-sensor
Motion Sensor
The motion sensor is used for security reasons however these are also used
in hand dryers, energy management systems, automatic parking systems,
automatic door controls, automated toilet flushers, automated sinks, etc.
These sensors are also applicable for the Internet of Things to check them
with the help of computer otherwise smartphone.

motion-sensor
Humidity Sensors
Humidity sensors are used to monitor the level of humidity in the amount of
vapor of water within the air. Otherwise, it will influence the comfort of
human & several industrialized processes. The units for measurement
humidity is RH (relative humidity), D/F PT (/frost point) & PPM (parts per
million).

humidity-sensors
Pressure Sensor
The pressure sensors are used in IoT for monitoring devices and systems
which are determined by force signals. As the range of pressure is outside
the threshold stage, then the device gives an alert to the user regarding the
issues that must be fixed. The best example of a pressure sensor is
BMP180, which can be used in PDAs, mobile phones; external device,
GPS navigation devices, etc. These sensors are also applicable in aircraft
and smart vehicles to decide altitude & force correspondingly. In a motor
vehicle, TMPS (tire pressure monitoring system) can also be used for
giving an alert to the driver while tire pressure is extremely less & it could
make unsafe driving situations.

pressure-sensors
Gas Sensor
Gas sensors are mainly used for detecting toxic gases. The most frequently
used technologies are photo-ionization, semiconductor, and
electrochemical. There are different types of gas sensors are available
based on technical specifications & advancements to expand the
connectivity of wired & wireless arranged within IoT applications.

gas-sensor
IR Sensors
Infrared sensors are mainly used to measure the heat which is produced by
objects. These sensors are used in the various applications of IoT like
healthcare for monitoring the flow of blood, BP, etc. These sensors are
used in smartphones for controlling, wearable devices for detecting the
amount of light, detection of blind-spot within vehicles, etc.
 infrared-sensors
Accelerometer Sensor
Accelerometer sensors are utilized in aircrafts vehicles, smartphones.
Similarly, these are used in different applications to identify the direction of
an object, tilt, tap, shake, positioning, and motion, vibration, or shock.
Types of accelerometers are like capacitive, Hall-effect & piezoelectric.

accelerometer-sensor
Image Sensor
Image sensors are applicable in medical imaging systems, media house,
thermal imaging devices, digital cameras, night-vision equipment, sonars,
radars, & biometric systems. These sensors are used in the retail industry
for monitoring the visiting count of the customers in the store with the help
of network like IoT. The applications of image sensors mainly include
offices, corporate buildings for monitoring the employees.
 image-sensor
Proximity Sensors
Proximity sensors are used to detect the existence or nonexistence of a near
object with no physical contact. These sensors are classified into different
types like capacitive, inductive, ultrasonic, magnetic, and photoelectric.
These sensors are frequently used for process monitoring, control, and
object counters.

proximity-sensors
This is all about an overview of IoT sensors. These sensors play a key role
in our daily life. These are used to check your health status, home security,
air quality, and are extensively used within the IIoT (Industrial Internet of
Things) to observe the process in production. Internet of Things allows
detection, heightened surveillance, and monitoring to combine for
improving health & increasing safety.