Different Types of Sensors for Internet of Things

Further to the discussion Different Types of Sensors for Internet of Things, so today we are going to talk about the “Things“, so what is things in IoT world ? Things that is sensors that get connected in the Internet of Things to sense and interact with the real world environment – from something as simple as a smoke detector to a robotic arm in manufacturing.

Table of Contents

What is Sensor?

A sensor is a device that measure, detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. That input could be heat, light, motion, pressure, moisture or any one of a great number of other environmental phenomena. The output is generally a signal that is converted to human-readable display at the sensor location or transmitted electronically over a network for reading or further processing.

Different kind of sensors in IoT

Temperature Sensor
Proximity Sensor
Pressure Sensor
Water Quality Sensor
Chemical/Smoke & Gas Sensor
Level Sensor
IR Sensor
Ultrasonic Sensor

1) Temperature Sensor

A Temperature Sensor is a device which is used to measure heat or temperature on the operating machine part. Temperature sensing is performed by gadget called Thermocouple. A thermocouple is a temperature-measuring device consisting of two dissimilar conductors that contact each other at one or more points. It produces a voltage when the temperature of one of the points differs from the reference temperature at other parts of the circuit.

2) Proximity Sensor

proximity sensor is using to detect the motion and very common to use in retail shop, through this device retailer will use customer’s proximity to any product and same time they can sent the coupons and deals to the customer’s mobile or on email. Now a days proximity sensor are using to check the availability or free spaces like parking space, sitting spaces in sports stadium, mall and airports.

3) Pressure Sensor

A pressure sensor is a gadget equipped with a pressure-sensitive element that’s used to measure the pressure of a liquid or a gas against a diaphragm made of silicon, stainless steel, etc., and converts the measured value into an electrical signal as an output. It’s also use to measure the water flow through pipes or tank and notify the concern person when something need to be fixed. Now a days pressure sensor is used in aircraft and vehicles to determine the altitude and force, continuously.

4) Water Quality Sensor

Water quality sensor are mainly used to measure a dozen of the most relevant water quality parameters, Wasp-mote Smart Water is the first water quality-sensing platform to feature autonomous nodes that connect to the Cloud for real-time water control. It’s used to measure quality of sea water, river water and etc.

5) Chemical/Smoke and Gas Sensor

smoke and gas detector is a gadget that sense gas, smoke and typically it’s an indicator of fire. Now a days all security devices using this sensor to passing signal to fire alarm to control panel. Household smoke detector is also known as smoke alarm, most of the device manufacturer using audible or visual alarm system in security devices that detect automatically.

6) Level Sensor

It’s used to detect the level of liquids and other fluids and fluidized solids, including granular materials, slurries and powders that exhibit an upper free surface. Level sensors is also using for water waste management and recycling purpose, like it’s using to measure water tank levels, petrol fuel gauging, high or low level alarm, liquid assets inventory and irrigation control.

7) IR Sensor

This smart gadget is used to detect the infrared lights. Infrared sensor visualize the heat leaks in houses, identify environmental chemicals in the environment, and helping doctor to measure patient blood flow. It can be integrated with wearable electronics. A very simple example, all the remotes having IR sensor, it’s using to pass the command to respective devices, like TV remote, fan remote, vehicle key remote all having infrared sensor.

8) Ultrasonic Sensor

An Ultrasonic sensor is used to measure the distance between the two object by using sound waves. It’s measure distance by sending sound wave at a specific frequency and listen that sound wave house to measure distance. There are two kind of an ultrasonic sensor is, “active ultrasonic sensor” and “passive ultrasonic sensors”. An active ultrasonic sensors generates the high frequency sound wave to receive back the ultrasonic sensor for evaluating the echo. But, passive ultrasonic sensors are just used for detecting ultrasonic noise which is present under specific conditions.