Figure 1: Sensors and Internet of Things (IoT)
The use of sensors is quite common in industries and organizations. But the Internet of Things (IoT) has taken the use of sensors to a completely different level. Again, the whole concept of IoT exists and has survived because of sensors. What is the role of sensors in IoT? Simply answered, they are the medium through which various physical objects are connected via the Internet. IoT platforms function and provide various types of intelligence and data using a variety of sensors. The world has become digital and “smarter” through the interconnection of things via the Internet through sensors. The connected things paradigm has ensured that individuals, businesses and industries are able to work intelligently with a huge amount of data collected and implemented by IoT sensors. This story introduces the prominent types of sensors in use in the IoT world.
In this discussion about types of sensors used in IoT, it is necessary to highlight:
v What are sensors,
v What is IoT,
v Role of sensors in IoT,
v Because sensors and IoT are interdependent,
v And then delve into the main topic i.e. the types of sensors used in IoT.
A detailed discussion follows below.
What are sensors
Just as our five sense organs – vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste – allow us to perceive the world, sensors are devices that allow machines and the humans who operate the machines to make sense of the world. explained, a sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input may be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure, or any of a large number of other environmental phenomena. The output is generally a signal that is converted into a human-readable display at the sensor location or transmitted electronically over a network for reading or further processing.
Some examples are:
The BMP280/BME280 sensor, an I2C sensor, is used to measure barometric (also known as atmospheric) pressure.
An oxygen sensor in a car's emissions control system detects the gasoline-to-oxygen ratio, usually through a chemical reaction that generates a voltage. A computer in the engine reads the voltage and, if the mixture is not ideal, readjusts the scale.
The MQ-4 sensor has high sensitivity to natural gas.
What is IoT
The Internet is basically a communication system and also an economical one. Explained more technically, the Internet is a globally connected network system that uses TCP/IP to transmit data through various types of media. Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices connected via the Internet, which facilitates the exchange and exchange of data.
Interrelationship of sensors and IoT
Figure 2: Si Sensors and IoT
Attaching sensors to things and interconnecting them via the Internet allows organizations to track locations in real time, monitor performance, improve workflows and optimize utilization. Examples: A “smart” navigation solution allows boat owners to check their boat(s) from a distance and make sure all systems are working properly . And a car tracking solution allows staff at auction locations to quickly locate the vehicle(s) they are looking for, rather than manually searching through thousands of parked cars.
Smart irrigation systems are one of the numerous best examples of using sensors and IoT. The sensors detect soil moisture and help decide whether to water the soil or not. If the irrigation system receives information about the weather through your internet connection, it can also know when it will rain and decide not to water the crops today because they will be watered by rain anyway.
Thus, sensors play a big role in establishing IoT. The various types of sensors used in IoT can be discussed as follows:
Temperature sensors
Fig. 3: Temperature sensors
Commonly used in devices such as controlling air conditioning and refrigerators, IoT has extended its use to manufacturing processes, agriculture and the healthcare industry. The types of temperature sensors are thermocouples, resistor temperature detectors, thermistors, IC (semiconductors) and infrared sensors. For example: Temperature and humidity data can be read from the DHT11 sensor and this data can be uploaded to a ThinkSpeak cloud using Arduino Uno and ESP8266 module.Melexis MLX90614, Environdata TA40 Series and Geokon 4700 are the main choices for temperature sensors in industrial IoT applications.
Proximity sensors
Fig. 4: An image of a proximity sensor
Proximity sensors are better at detecting motion. These sensors are used in the retail sector to detect special offers on nearby products, to check parking availability in parking lots, and so on. The types of proximity sensors are inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors and ultrasonic sensors. For example: Trash bin sensors, like the MB7138 XL-Trash Sonar-WRM, are the most effective for knowing exactly what is happening inside a trash container.
Pressure sensors
Fig. 5: E8PC – A Pressure Sensor
A pressure sensor is a device that detects pressure and converts it into an electrical signal. For example: KELLER pressure sensors detect flood water levels or changes in load distribution on bridges, thereby alerting emergency services when flooding is imminent or when the structural health of a bridge is compromised.960 Series Pressure Systems , 970, Paroscientific Inc. The BP10 series are some of the most commonly used pressure sensors in industrial IoT applications.
Water quality sensors
Figure 6: Waspmote Plug & Sense! Smart Water Mode
These sensors are used to detect water quality and monitor ions mainly in water distribution system. They find use in a variety of industries. For example: The oxygen reduction potential sensor provides information about the level of oxidation/reduction reactions occurring in the solution.
Chemical Sensors
Fig. 7: Chemical Sensor to Capture Drug Conductors
They are widely used in industrial environmental monitoring and process control, detection of intentionally or accidentally released harmful chemicals, explosive and radioactive detection, recycling processes in the Space Station, pharmaceutical industries and laboratories, and so on.
Gas Sensors
Fig. 8: Gas Detectors
Gas sensors are used in industries for purposes such as hazardous gas detection, chemical industry research, manufacturing industry and so on. Carbon dioxide sensor, breathalyzer, hydrogen sensor, ozone monitor, electrochemical gas sensor, gas detector, hygrometer, air pollution sensors are some commonly used gas sensors.
Smoke sensors
Fig. 9: ECO1002-A – Thermal Smoke Sensor
Smoke sensors detect the presence of smoke, gases and flames around your field. It can be detected optically or by physical process or by using both methods. Common types of smoke sensors are:
Optical smoke sensor (photoelectric): The optical smoke sensor used the light scattering principle trigger for the occupants. Vishay's VCNL4020X01 and TCxT1600X01 are optical sensors designed specifically for industrial IoT applications. Ionization Smoke Sensor: Ionization Smoke Sensor works based on the principle of ionization, a type of chemistry to detect molecules that cause a trigger alarm.
Infrared sensors
Fig. 10: IR sensors
An infrared sensor is a sensor used to detect certain features of the environment by emitting or detecting infrared radiation. It is also capable of measuring the heat emitted by objects. Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM), Murata, Melexis MLX90614, Intersil ISL29021 are among the few IOT IR sensors used in industries.
They are now used in a variety of IoT projects, especially in healthcare, as they simplify monitoring blood flow and blood pressure. They are even used in a wide range of common smart devices such as smartwatches and smartphones. Other common uses include household appliances and remote control, breath analysis, infrared vision (i.e., viewing heat leaks in electronics, monitoring blood flow, art historians to see under layers of paint), wearable electronics, optical communication, temperature measurements contactless. , automotive blind spot detection.
Therefore, sensors can collect critical information about the environment, enabling early detection of environmental disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., thereby saving lives. Once again, better surveillance and tracking tools allow authorities to detect when crime has occurred and respond much more quickly, keeping citizens safer.
In today’s “smart” world, sensors play an important role in our everyday lives and in IoT. Sensors monitor our health status (e.g. heart rate), air quality, home security and are widely used in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). ) to monitor production processes. Sensors can collect critical information about the environment, enabling early detection of environmental disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., thus saving lives. IoT enables intensified surveillance, monitoring and detection, which combine to improve health and increase safety. This is particularly interesting for organizations like local or municipal governments that need to ensure the health and safety of their residents, but it also extends to large companies that support their employees.
Conclusion
Rather than just passively providing information and reacting to our input, much of the value of IoT will come from anticipating and automatically meeting needs. Balearic Islands have become a “smart” tourist destination by expanding IoT sensor networks.
Libelium technology installed in the port of Palma de Mallorca revealed that ferries cause more air pollution than cruises. The ESPO (European Sea Ports Organization) environmental report for 2018 shows that air quality continues to be the top priority for European ports. Aware of this, the Balearic Islands Port Authority has been working hard since 2016 to also know the level of air quality, capacity and alignment with the Environmental Policy of the Balearic Islands Port Authority . In 2017, the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB in Spanish ) Maiorcawifi.com , in collaboration with the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB in Spanish), implemented an IoT project based on the Libelium sensor platform to control the environmental impact of ships in the Port of Mallorca. The authorities were concerned about the high level of cruises, ferries and boats, in order to avoid their negative effects on living conditions in the surrounding areas in such a tourist destination . Almost two years of data collection after the installation of the nodes, the Authority of Balearic Ports reached the first conclusions based on the data captured by the network of nodes. In July 2018, it was revealed by UIB researchers that cruise ships were not the primary cause of pollution in the area, but rather passenger and commercial ferries.
Measuring stations monitor levels of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), ozone (O 3 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulfur dioxide and noise every ten minutes. Authorities confirm that the highest levels are reached in the morning, between 6:00 am and 11:00 am.
Fig. 12: Project web panel
Following the publication of the study results, the port authorities expressed their interest in implementing new policies in order to reduce pollution and its negative impacts. In the future, the port will offer free power to ships, which will be asked to turn off their engines while docking to reduce emissions. The example above from the Balearic Islands is just one of the countless real-world applications of IoT through the use of sensors.
