The internet of things couldn't exist without smart sensors.
While the use of sensor technology has long affected how manufacturers, industrial organizations and utilities operate, the addition of IoT to sensors has expanded their impact and use cases, bringing more connectivity and analytics to processes than ever before. Today, smart factories, smart cities, smart buildings and connected individuals are using an array of smart sensors to collect real-time data for real-time insights and decision-making.
However, these aren't your grandfather's sensors. They may collect some of the same data as the sensors of yesteryear, but today's smart sensors are internet-enabled and more sophisticated than ever.
Let's dive into how smart sensors work and their use cases across various verticals.
What is a smart sensor?
In general, a smart sensor has three major components: a sensor that captures data from an environment; a microprocessor, which computes on the output of the sensor via programming; and communications capabilities that enable the sensor to communicate the microprocessor's output for action.
A smart sensor may include multiple types of sensors (see sidebar), as well as transducers, transceivers, amplifiers, analog filters and a power source, among other components.
To be most effective, internet of things sensors should include wireless communications, be smart enough to compute data remotely and be programmable to accommodate new capabilities as needed, said Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers senior member Shawn Chandler.
Types of IoT sensors
"Sensors for use in IoT may be purposed for nearly any form of measurement, providing a mechanism that links desired observations from the field to an application," Chandler said.
To categorize sensors, he said, think of them in terms of the physics domains.
- Light and electromagnetism sensors. These include RFID sensors for retail and logistics applications, imaging and identity sensors for security applications, light sensors for automation in smart buildings, and radioactivity sensors for safety and health applications.
- Thermal sensors. For example, room temperature monitoring in smart buildings, environmental monitoring or material temperature monitoring in industrial process management.
- Vibration and sound sensors. For example, seismic sensors for regional safety; sound pressure for health monitoring and industrial process automation; specific sound monitoring for civil management applications, such as gunshot noise detection; personal health applications, such as fitness and health wearables; or vibration sensors for reliability-based maintenance of equipment in plants or for industrial organizations.
- Matter and materials sensors. Many applications for environmental, safety, health, agricultural and environmental automation require specific fluid and gas sensors, such as those to detect a chemical presence or oxygen, carbon dioxide, humidity or water levels.
- Time and space sensors. For example, Geographic Information System location sensors for logistics management; personal applications; or location, velocity and acceleration sensors for vehicle and traffic management.
IoT sensor use cases
Smart sensors serve three broad purposes. First, they provide greater visibility into existing processes and workflows, identifying items, locating them and determining their environmental conditions. For example, smart sensors in industrial IoT environments can keep track of temperature and humidity, can log data for historical records and quality management, or can be used as triggers for alarms or process management in plants or warehouses.
Second, IoT sensors can be embedded into products to improve processes or the products themselves. In the manufacturing process, sensors can monitor, control and improve operations or be added to logistics to streamline how products are delivered. When embedded in devices, smart products can create new revenue possibilities.
Third, the lower cost and more advanced capabilities of sensors enable wider and more effective use 