4 Types of Sensors and their Uses

The latest sensors have improved features, including user-friendliness, accessibility, and flexibility.

FREMONT, CA: A sensor is a device that helps detect events or changes in its environment and share the data with other connected electronic devices. The latest sensors, such as those used in IoTs and wearables, will soon revolutionize the electronics sector. Be it a heart attack detector that identifies the protein level or a posture-correcting chair that alerts the occupant sitting in a wrong posture. Sensors have a key role to play in electronic devices. The fact is that the uses of sensors are ever-expanding along with the progress in science and technology. As per reports, sensors are becoming the fastest-growing market, comparable with computers and communication devices markets. Here are some of the latest sensors and their applications.

• IoT sensors

IoT sensors comprise temperature sensors, pressure sensors,  proximity sensors, chemical sensors, RF sensors, pyroelectric IR sensors, water-quality sensors, liquid-level sensors, smoke sensors, gas sensors, automobile sensors, and medical sensors. These sensors are connected to a computer network for controlling and monitoring. IoT systems have extensive applications across industries using sensors and the internet, with their unique flexibility in offering enhanced data collection, automation, and operation.

• Pollution sensors

Pollution sensors are used to identify and monitor the presence of air pollution in the surrounding area. These can be leveraged for both indoor and outdoor environments. Although there are several air pollution sensors, most of these sensors focus on parameters like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxide. These sensors are costly but are becoming more affordable for common use.

• RFID sensors

As small as the size of rice grains, RFID chips can be inserted under the skin for use as ID cards. There is a trend to harness RFID chips in several products, including contactless bank cards and Oyster cards. There are also applications where chips are implanted in pets and cattle for monitoring.

• Wearable sensors

These sensors include medical sensors, GPS, inertial measurement units, and optical sensors. With modern techniques, wearable sensors can now be implemented in digital health monitoring systems. Sensors are also connected to several accessories such as clothes, wrist bands, eyeglasses, headphones, and smartphones.