The Internet of Things (IoT) is among the few technological advancements that have garnered the world’s attention in recent years. And the fact is that the IoT industry isn’t just rising but outright booming.
The number of IoT devices, which is around 15.14 billion devices in 2023, is expected to almost double by the end of 2030, reaching 29.42 billion devices, as per Statista. The report further estimates that China will be the biggest consumer of IoT devices, with around 8 billion devices by 2030.
Another market report released by MarketsandMarkets suggests that the IoT security market size, which is around USD 20.9 billion in 2023, will rise to USD 59.2 billion in 2028, with a whopping 183% growth.
While these figures are just estimations, we cannot deny that the IoT industry is booming. And one of the reasons for such significant growth is the advancements in IoT sensors.
What Are the Roles of IoT Sensors?
The role of sensors in an IoT ecosystem is simple – collect real-world data. To understand the role of sensors better, you will have to understand the working principle of an IoT ecosystem.
The Internet of Things ecosystem fundamentally relies on two major components – a connectivity network and sensors.
The connectivity network, primarily the Internet, is used for communication and data transfer between IoT devices, whereas the sensors are electronic chipsets embedded in IoT devices to collect real-world data.
After collecting the real-world data, the processor in the IoT device transmits the data collected by sensors for additional processing with the help of the connectivity network. Then, the central processing software analyzes the data, either with the help of AI or a manually written algorithm, and makes appropriate decisions to change the operating conditions.
For instance, motion-based security alarms sense the variation in motion with the help of motion sensors to comprehend human presence. It then transfers the data to central processing software, and after understanding the data, the software triggers the alarm.
Until now, you have understood the basic role and working principle of sensors in IoT devices.
Types of IoT Sensors
Here, I have curated a list of the most common types of IoT sensors and their uses –
Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors are sensors used to measure the amount of heat energy of an area or an object and detect temperature changes. It converts these temperature changes into data points for the processor in the IoT devices.
Earlier, temperature sensors were mainly used for environmental control in devices like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. But the rise of IoT has opened new doors for temperature sensors, and now these sensors are prevalent in various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and more.
Temperature sensors in most industries are primarily used to maintain required environmental and device temperatures. For example, in the manufacturing process, these sensors regulate the temperature of machines to ensure optimal performance and product quality.
Similarly, temperature sensors are used in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry to maintain the optimal temperature for vaccines, medicines, medical devices, and other temperature-sensitive materials.
Pressure Sensors
Most devices in homes and industries rely on liquid, gas, or other forms of pressure. Pressure sensors in these devices are used to measure the amount of applied pressure and convert the findings into data points.
The central device records these data points at regular intervals. Whenever these pressure sensors measure a considerable deviation in the standard pressure range, they notify the device. This can be used to notify the system administrator or trigger new working rules per the configured algorithm.
Pressure sensors are used in various industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to aerospace and aviation. For example, in healthcare, pressure sensors are used in multiple medical equipment, such as sphygmomanometers (blood pressure monitoring machines), medical ventilators, automatic drug infusion machines, etc.
Similarly, pressure sensors are used in various machines in manufacturing industries to ensure optimal conditions to avoid machine failure.
Proximity Sensors
Proximity sensors are devices designed to detect the presence and motion of moving objects in the vicinity without physical contact and convert the findings into electrical signals. These electric signals can then be used to trigger automated response or manual analysis.
Since proximity sensors don’t need any physical contact, these are widely used in devices to perform non-contact detection. There are various types of proximity sensors, each with a different working principle and use case.
Automotive is one of the booming industries utilizing proximity sensors at its best. Earlier, proximity sensors in the automotive industry were only used to help drivers assist in parking their vehicles by detecting obstacles in the surroundings. But right now, the concept of self-driving cars heavily relies on proximity sensors.
Proximity sensors are also quite popular amongst retailers as they help them understand customer interaction patterns with various products. The findings of these sensors can then be used for marketing insights and offer custom deals on such products.
Optical Sensors
Optical sensors are based on the principle of transmission and reception of light. These sensors measure the intensity of light to detect the physical parameters of objects and translate the findings into readable data. This data can then be used either for automation or manual reading.
IoT experts love optical sensors as these sensors can simultaneously collect information on various physical parameters such as position, motion, chemical composition, magnetic field, pressure, etc. For the same reason, optical sensors have their presence in various industries.
Healthcare diagnostic devices that measure blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, etc., use optical sensors. Optical sensors are also quite popular in consumer electronics.
For example, motion-controlled gaming consoles and other popular IoT devices for home contain optical sensors to comprehend body movement, hand gestures, human presence, etc., and deliver an interactive user experience.
Accelerometers
As per the definition, acceleration is the rate of change in velocity of an object with respect to time. Accelerometer sensors are used to measure the acceleration force and movements of objects in their instantaneous rest frame.
Accelerometers can sense both static one-axis movements, i.e., forward and backward or up and down, as well as dynamic three-axis movements, i.e., running or tilting. Because of this, accelerometers are used for complete motion detection.
Accelerometers are quite popular in everyday devices. For example, wearable trackers and smartwatches rely on accelerometers to count steps, distance, and activity levels. Healthcare monitoring devices, such as devices for Parkinson’s disease, fall detection, cardiac monitoring, sleep tracking, etc., also utilize accelerometers.
That said, accelerometers aren’t limited to healthcare monitoring and everyday devices only. The use case of accelerometers can also be found in industrial automation, automotive control and detection, drones and robots, safety systems, vibration measurement, etc.
Humidity Sensors
Humidity is the presence of the water vapor in the air. It is a gaseous state of water that cannot be seen like rain or fog. Humidity sensors measure this water content and air temperature and convert findings into data termed Relative Humidity (RH).
Relative Humidity is nothing but the amount of moisture present in the air compared to the highest amount of moisture air could hold at a specific temperature. Having the ideal Relative Humidity is important for personal comfort as well as the proper functioning of electronics and machines.
Humidity sensors play a significant role in the manufacturing process as most machines require ideal working conditions to deliver the best performance, longevity, as well as quality output. Since these sensors can detect even small changes, you can get sufficient time to fix the cause.
The application of humidity sensors is far-reaching and ever-evolving. The application of hygrometer can be found in healthcare and pharmaceuticals to protect medicines and treat patients, agriculture for optimum food production, weather monitoring to predict weather, HVAC systems to provide comfort and protection against respiratory issues, and more.
Gas Sensors
Gas sensors measure the presence and concentration of various gaseous elements in the surroundings. These sensors mostly create physical or chemical interactions with atmospheric gas molecules to detect and convert the concentration of existing gases into electric signals.
Because of their accuracy and ability to quickly detect changes in the air, gas sensors are primarily used in safety systems to detect the presence of harmful and toxic gases. For the same reason, chemical research, mining, oil and gas, and other production and research facilities widely apply these sensors in their security systems to monitor air quality, gas leaks, and emissions.
However, gas sensors are not limited to industrial usage only. Because of their constant air-sensing ability, gas sensors are often applied as a part of larger embedded systems used for environmental monitoring, food safety, security systems, and even consumer electronics.
For example, security systems designed to protect against fire hazards and prevent smoking in hotels and restaurants contain gas sensors. Besides, consumer electronics such as air quality monitors and air purifiers boast these sensors to measure the concentration of gases.
Smoke Sensors
Although smoke sensors share some similarities with gas sensors, they both have distinct roles. For example, gas sensors are used to measure the presence and concentration of gases, whereas smoke sensors are designed to detect smoke only.
As a result, smoke sensors are mainly used in emergency alarms in HVAC systems, buildings, hotels, and research and manufacturing zones to notify people in the facility about fire hazards. Sensors used in these alarm systems measure suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air using different types of technologies.
When the sensor finds that the SPM particles have increased above the specific level, it triggers the alarm to notify about the potential danger. This way, people can have sufficient time to evacuate or make the right decisions.
In an IoT ecosystem, these sensors can further be utilized to signal connected devices to make programmed decisions, such as opening evacuation doors, triggering sprinkler systems, ringing the alarm, etc.
Image Sensors
Image sensors are basically devices that collect and transmit data required to make an image. The image sensors collect photons (basically light) and convert them into electric signals for further processing. These signals are then processed by the device to form an image.
The application of image sensors in IoT is far and wide and is constantly evolving. Think of automatic license plate readers or facial recognition systems for a moment. These advanced automated systems are impossible to create without the use of image sensors.
Modern-day security systems used in homes and offices also rely on image sensors. For example, smart doorbell cameras use these sensors to distinguish between familiar faces and unexpected strangers and send you instant alerts so that you can be well prepared.
In essence, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that we are surrounded by image sensors. Everything from our smartphones to satellites relies on image sensors for one reason or another.
Motion Detection Sensors
Motion detectors are devices used to detect the movement of objects, mainly people, in the vicinity and convert findings into electric signals. Depending on the configuration and the type of sensor, motion sensors can detect even small movements.
Apart from sensing motions, these sensors could also be used to decipher the movement type and pattern. This high-level sensing capability opens new doors for these sensors in various applications.
As nothing could pass through the passive infrared rays, microwaves, or ultrasonic waves emitted from these motion detection sensors, they are considered the linchpin of advanced security systems. However, these sensors are mostly incorporated as an essential component of advanced security systems.
That said, motion sensors aren’t limited to security systems only. They can be found embedded into digital cameras, VR systems, phones, gaming consoles, and even paper towel dispensers and automated sinks.
How Do IoT Sensors Work?
We can categorize sensors in different categories based on their working mechanism. But in an IoT ecosystem, they all have the same role – sensing the world and collecting information.
Depending on the type of sensor, they collect the information and convert it into electric signals. These signals are then processed, filtered, and amplified through the internal circuitry and converted to a digital format before reaching the central hub.
When the data reaches the central hub, it can be used for various purposes, such as –
- Automate Tasks – This data can be used to configure the algorithm to send signals to other connected devices or automate tasks such as taking pictures, sending alerts, triggering the alarm, etc.
- Analyze Data – This data can further be used for analysis to enhance the efficiency of the IoT ecosystem and make informed decisions.
What To Do With the Data?
Many beginners overlook this, but controlling the sensor data is crucial to protecting and optimizing an IoT ecosystem.
Here are a few tips you should consider to have better control over the data –
- The very first thing you should do is define your purpose to minimize the data. This would help you differentiate between the data you actually need for your application and the data you should avoid.
- Always use secure protocols such as HTTPS and TLS to encrypt data while transferring data between different devices and servers. You can also consider encrypting data at rest using the AES, 3DES, or any other algorithm to protect it from breaches.
- Instead of giving the same access, create different user roles and give access accordingly.
After applying these tips, you should also focus on optimizing the data.
FAQs
What are the four main types of sensors?
IoT sensors are devices used in an IoT ecosystem to detect and collect real-world information.
What are the four main types of sensors?
What are the four main types of sensors?
There isn’t any universally agreed-upon categorization of sensors with exactly four types. But if we categorize sensors based on their application and the data they collect, the four types of sensors would be physical, chemical, electromagnetic, and optical sensors.
What are the classifications of sensors in IoT?
The classification of sensors can be done in various ways. You can classify sensors based on their communication protocol, signal type, application, etc.
Conclusion
There you have it – a detailed article covering information on different types of sensors used in IoT.
These sensors are the backbone of all popular IoT devices for home and work, such as HVAC systems, smart security systems, smart refrigerators, and more. Therefore, if you are planning to enter the world of IoT, having a basic understanding of these sensors is a must.
Besides that, if you are interested in building a career in IoT, you should have hands-on experience in building live IoT projects. And a good IoT starter kit would surely help with that.
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