Sensing

Sensors can be found all over the place. They can be found in our homes and
businesses, as well as retail malls and hospitals. They're built into smartphones and
play a key role in the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors have existed for quite some
time. Infrared sensors have been around since the late 1940s, while the first
thermostat was launched in the late 1880s. The Internet of Things (IoT) and its
industrial cousin, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), are taking sensor usage to
new heights.

Sensors, in general, are devices that detect and respond to changes in their
surroundings. Light, temperature, motion, and pressure are all examples of possible
inputs. Sensors produce useful data, which they can exchange with other connected
devices and management systems if they are connected to a network.

Sensors are vital to the success of many modern organizations. They can alert you to
possible issues before they turn into major issues, allowing firms to do preventative
maintenance and avoid costly downtime.

A good sensor should have these three characteristics:

● It needs to be attentive to the phenomenon it's tracking.

● It shouldn't be affected by other bodily factors.

● During the measuring procedure, it should not change the phenomenon being
measured.

We can use a variety of sensors to measure practically all of the physical properties
around us. Thermometers, pressure sensors, light sensors, accelerometers,
gyroscopes, motion sensors, gas sensors, and many other common sensors are widely
used in everyday life. Several properties can be used to describe a sensor, the most
essential of which is:
● Range - The sensor's range refers to the phenomenon's highest and minimum
values.

● Sensitivity - Sensitivity is defined as the smallest change in the measured

parameter that results in a noticeable change in the output signal.

● Resolution - The sensor's resolution is the smallest change in the phenomenon it

can detect.

Sensor classification

Several criteria can be used to classify sensors:

● Passive or Active - Active sensors, on the other hand, require an external power
source to monitor an environment, whereas passive sensors do not.

● Another classification is dependent on how the property was detected and

measured (mechanical, chemical, etc.).

● Analog or Digital - Digital sensors produce a discrete signal, whereas analog

sensors produce an analog, or continuous, signal.

Types of sensors

There are many different types of IoT sensors, as well as numerous applications and
use cases. Here are ten of the most common types of IoT sensors, as well as some of
their applications.

1. Temperature sensors

Temperature sensors detect temperature changes and translate them to data by

measuring the quantity of heat energy present in a source. Manufacturing machinery
frequently necessitates specific environmental and device temperatures. Similarly,
soil temperature is an important determinant in crop growth in agriculture.

2. Humidity sensors
These sensors determine how much water vapor is present in the environment of air
or other gases. Humidity sensors are often found in both industrial and domestic
heating, venting, and air conditioning systems. They can also be found in a variety of
different places, such as hospitals and meteorology stations, where they record and
forecast weather.

3. Pressure sensors

Changes in gases and liquids are detected by a pressure sensor. The sensor monitors
changes in pressure and conveys them to connected systems when they occur. Leak
testing, which might occur as a result of degradation, is a common application case.
Pressure sensors are also important in the manufacture of water systems since they
can easily detect pressure variations or dips.

4. Proximity sensors

Proximity sensors are used to detect objects that are close to the sensor without
having to touch them. Electromagnetic fields or beams of radiation, such as infrared,
are frequently emitted by these sensors. Proximity sensors have a variety of
applications. A proximity sensor in retail can detect motion between a customer and a
product that piques his or her attention. Any discounts or special offers on products
near the sensor might be notified to the user. Mall parking lots, stadium parking lots,
and airport parking lots all use proximity sensors to signal parking availability. They
can also be employed in production lines in the chemical, food, and a variety of other
industries.

5. Level sensors

The level of substances such as liquids, powders, and granular materials is detected
using level sensors. Level sensors are used in a variety of industries, including oil
production, water treatment, and beverage and food manufacturing. Level sensors
can measure the amount of rubbish in a garbage can or dumpster, which is a frequent
use case for waste management systems.

6. Gyroscope sensors
Gyroscope sensors measure the angular rate or velocity, which is commonly defined
as the speed and rotation around an axis. Automobiles, such as automobile navigation
and electronic stability control (anti-skid) systems, are examples of use cases. Motion
sensing for video games and camera shake detection systems are two other
applications.

7. Gas sensors

These sensors track and detect changes in air quality, such as the presence of toxic,
flammable, or dangerous gases. Mining, oil and gas, chemical research, and
manufacturing are all industries that use gas sensors. Carbon dioxide detectors,
which are found in many homes, are a common consumer use case.

8. Infrared sensors

By producing or detecting infrared radiation, these sensors detect features in their

surroundings. They can also detect the heat that objects emit. Infrared sensors are
employed in a range of IoT projects, including healthcare, because they make blood
flow and blood pressure monitoring easier. Infrared sensors are used by televisions to
decipher the signals supplied by a remote control. Art historians utilizing infrared
sensors to observe hidden layers in paintings to assist establish whether a work of art
is real or fake, or has been altered by a restoration technique, is another intriguing
application.

9. Optical sensors

Optical sensors are devices that transform light beams into electrical impulses.
Optical sensors have a wide range of applications and use cases. Vehicles in the
automotive industry utilize optical sensors to detect signs, obstructions, and other
objects that a driver might see while driving or parking. Optical sensors are crucial in
the development of self-driving cars. Optical sensors are widely used in mobile
phones.

Key takeaway
Sensors can be found all over the place. They can be found in our homes and
businesses, as well as retail malls and hospitals.

Sensors are vital to the success of many modern organizations.

Temperature sensors detect temperature changes and translate them to data by

measuring the quantity of heat energy present in a source.

Humidity sensors are often found in both industrial and domestic heating, venting,
and air conditioning systems.

Pressure sensors are also important in the manufacture of water systems since they
can easily detect pressure variations or dips.

Proximity sensors are used to detect objects that are close to the sensor without
having to touch them.

Optical sensors are devices that transform light beams into electrical impulses.

Actuation

A physical object (“thing”) + controller (“brain”) + sensors + actuators + networks

make up an IoT device (Internet). A machine component or system that moves or
regulates a mechanism or system is known as an actuator. The device's sensors detect
the surroundings, and control signals are sent to the actuators based on the activities
required.

An actuator is something like a servo motor. They can move to a defined angular or
linear location and are either linear or rotatory actuators. For IoT applications, we
can use servo motors and rotate them to 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and other angles as
needed.

The controller instructs the actuator to conduct the task depending on the sensor data,
as shown in the diagram below.
Fig 2: Use of actuations

Through the actuator, the control system affects the environment. It necessitates an
energy supply as well as a control signal. It turns the source of energy into a
mechanical operation when it gets a control signal. On this premise, on the form of
energy it uses, it has different types given below.

Types of Actuators

10. Hydraulic actuator

A hydraulic actuator is a mechanical device that employs hydraulic power to

complete a task. A cylinder or a fluid motor drives them. According to the needs of the
IoT device, mechanical motion is translated to rotary, linear, or oscillatory motion.
Hydraulic actuators are used in construction equipment because they can create a
considerable amount of force.

Advantages

● Hydraulic actuators have the ability to generate significant amounts of force at a

high rate.

● Used in welding, clamping, and other applications.

● In car transport carriers, it's used to lower or raise the vehicles.

Disadvantages

● Leaks in hydraulic fluid can reduce performance and complicate cleanup.

● Noise reduction equipment, heat exchangers, and high-maintenance systems are
all required.

● It is expensive.

11. Pneumatic Actuators

A pneumatic actuator converts energy created by vacuum or high-pressure

compressed air into linear or rotary motion. For example, sensors that act like human
fingers and are powered by compressed air are used in robotics.

Advantages

● They are a low-cost solution that is employed in extreme temperatures where

employing air rather than chemicals is a safer option.

● They require little maintenance, are long-lasting, and have a lengthy service life.

● It is quite quick to initiate and stop the action.

Disadvantages

● It can become less efficient if there is a loss of pressure.

● The air compressor should be turned on all the time.

● It is possible for air to be polluted, and it must be maintained.

12. Electrical actuators

An electric actuator works by converting electrical energy into mechanical torque and
is usually powered by a motor. A solenoid-based electric bell is an example of an
electric actuator.

Advantages

● It can automate industrial valves, which makes it useful in a variety of sectors.

● It makes less noise and is completely safe to use because there are no
fluid leaks.

● It has the ability to be reprogrammed and delivers the highest level

of controland precision positioning.

Disadvantages

● It's not cheap.

● It is highly dependent on the surrounding environment.

Key takeaway

A physical object (“thing”) + controller (“brain”) + sensors + actuators +

networks make up an IoT device (Internet).

A machine component or system that moves or regulates a mechanism or

system isknown as an actuator.

A hydraulic actuator is a mechanical device that employs hydraulic power

tocomplete a task.

A pneumatic actuator converts energy created by vacuum or high-pressure

compressed air into linear or rotary motion.

An electric actuator works by converting electrical energy into mechanical

torque and is usually powered by a motor.