Explore the most relevant smart IoT sensors that have transformed the way systems function and business operates.
Image: from IoT infographics
Sensors have existed for a very long time and they are in almost every aspect of life. They have the ability to respond to certain types of conditions within their environment and generate a response that can represent the proportion of the condition monitored. The response could be to light, water, temperature or the proximity of an object.
Sensors are one vital factor to the success of the internet of things. Industries and organizations have been using sensors for conventional business processes, but with the discovery of the IoT, the evolution of the sensor have been transformed into another level of efficiency.
Applications using IoT — whether for factories, wearable or big community infrastructures— using several types of sensors for variation purposes. The main aim is to collect data from multiple signal sources and then transmit this array of information over the internet to a central database. Once the data is collected, analytics software running on the cloud computers helps to transform the large generated data to valuable and directional information for users.
Let’s look at Tesla vehicles as an example. The cars carry various types of sensors that record perception of the surroundings and upload the information into a huge database. The data is further processed and all the valuable information is sent to not just that vehicle but to all other vehicles as a real-time, ongoing process, through which a whole fleet of Cars learn to be efficient and smarter every day.
There are various types of IoT Sensors, However, we are going to take a dive into the 5 smart sensors used for IoT development. The sensors include;
- Temperature Sensors
- Perception/Proximity Sensors
- Image Sensors
- Water Quality Sensors
- Pressure Sensors
The thermal condition of the air or any physical object can be measured using Temperature sensors.
Smart Temperature sensors measure the temperature level and convert into electrical signals that can be calibrated, transferred and stored accurately over the internet. These sensors can monitor temperatures particularly in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and agriculture, where the soil temperature is measured for crop sustainability and to warn managers when temperatures are overheating or nearing the point of collapse.
The application of this sensor can be seen in modern cars. When a driver tries to reverse the car, the embedded sensor system notifies the driver to be weary of nearby objects that might cause an accident or damage.
Proximity sensors are applied when working with objects that need not touch the sensor. These types of sensors beam of radiation such as infrared, the lights make contact with the objects from a distance. In more recent uses, proximity sensors are used in parking spaces in stadiums and large malls to indicate parking availability through a central monitoring system.
Smart Image Sensors
If you own a 2019 moble phone, you would have a feel of what smart Image IoT sensors can do. Smart image sensors are mostly found in phone cameras, security cameras, radars, media houses, and thermal imagining. The sensor converts optical conditions into electronic responses that can be transferred and stored over the internet. The best part is that this signals can be detected and transmitted in real-time.
Water Quality Sensors
Water quality sensors can be found primarily in water distribution systems. It is used to detect the quality of water through Ion monitoring. Water is necessary for the sustenance of life and these sensors play a very important role in ensuring the quality of water for different industries.
Pressure sensors monitor the force per unit area applied to the sensor. It can also detect things such as atmospheric pressure, gas pressure and liquid pressure in a controlled system.
The full application of IoT sensors is yet to reach its full scale. As the platform becomes smarter through the integration of IoT with sensors, it is obvious that many businesses and organizations will become more efficient and productive.