A smart transducer is an analog or digital transducer, actuator, or sensor combined with a processing unit and a communication interface. As sensors and actuators become more complex, they provide support for various modes of operation and interfacing. Some applications require additionally fault-tolerant and distributed computing. Such functionality can be achieved by adding an embedded microcontroller to the classical sensor/actuator, which increases the ability to cope with complexity at a fair price. Typically, these on-board technologies in smart sensors are used for digital processing, either frequency-to-code or analog-to-digital conversations, interfacing functions and calculations. Interfacing functions include decision-making tools like self-adaption, self-diagnostics, and self-identification functions, but also the ability to control how long and when the sensor will be fully awake, to minimize power consumption and to decide when to dump and store data. They are often made using CMOS, VLSI technology and may contain MEMS devices leading to lower cost. They may provide full digital outputs for easier interface or they may provide quasi-digital outputs like pulse-width modulation. In the machine vision field, a single compact unit that combines the imaging functions and the complete image processing functions is often called a smart sensor. Smart sensors are a crucial element in the phenomenon Internet of Things (IoT). Within such a network, multiple physical vehicles and devices are embedded with sensors, software and electronics. Data will be collected and shared for better integration between digital environments and the physical world. The connectivity between sensors is an important requirement for an IoT innovation to perform well. Interoperability can therefore be seen as a consequence of connectivity. The sensors work and complement each other.
Improvement over traditional sensors The key features of smart sensors as part of the IoT that differentiate them from traditional sensors are:
Small size Self-validation and self-identification Low power requirements Self-diagnosis Self-calibration Connection to the Internet and other devices The traditional sensor collects information about an object or a situation and translates it into an electrical signal. It gives feedback of the physical environment, process, or substance in a measurable way, and signals or indicates when change in this environment occurs. Traditional sensors in a network of sensors can be divided in three parts: one, the sensors; two, a centralized interface where the data is collected and processed; and three, an infrastructure that connects the network, like plugs, sockets and wires. A network of smart sensors can be divided in two parts; (1) the sensors, and (2) a centralized interface. The fundamental difference with traditional sensors, is that the microprocessors embedded in the smart sensors already process the data. Therefore, less data has to be transmitted and the data can immediately be used and accessed on different devices. The switch to smart sensors entails that the tight coupling between transmission and processing technologies is removed.
Digital traces Within a digital environment, actions or activities leave a digital trace. Smart sensors measure these activities in the physical environment and translate this into a digital environment. Therefore, every step within the process becomes digitally traceable. Whenever a mistake is made somewhere in a production process, this can be tracked down using these digital traces. As a result, it will be easier to track down inefficiencies within a production process and simplify process innovations, because one can easier analyze what part of the production process is inefficient. Due to the fact that all the information is digitized, the company is exposed to cyber attacks. To protect itself from these information breaches, ensuring a secure platform is crucial.
Layered modular architecture of digital sensors The term layered modular architecture is a combination between the modular architecture of the physical components of a product with the layered architecture of the digital system. There is a contents layer, a service layer, a network layer ((1) logical transmission, (2) physical transport), and a device layer ((1) logical capability, (2) physical machinery). Starting at the device layer, the smart sensor itself is the physical machinery, measuring its physical environment. The logical capacity refers to operating systems, which can be Windows, MacOS or another operating system that is used to run the platform on. At the network layer, the logical transmission can consist of various transmission methods; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee and RFID. For smart sensors, physical transport is not necessary, since smart sensors are usually wireless. Yet charging wires and sockets are still commonly used. The service layer is about the service that is provided by the smart sensor. The sensors are able to process the data themselves. Therefore, there is not one specific service of the sensors because they process multiple things simultaneously. They can for example signal that certain assets need to be repaired. The content layer would be the centralised platforms, that are created and used to gain insights and create value.
Usage across industries
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
