Impact of Sensors on the Internet of Things in the Post Pandemic Era

Sensors are making a huge impact in the IoT and the post-pandemic era with their greater advantages in public health and embracing smart systems.

FREMONT, CA: There is an increased demand for sensors and their components in the semiconductor industry, which is expected to reach an annual growth rate of 8 per cent in the coming years. This huge growth has led to the evolution of sensor technology, which has made it easier and cheaper to design and produce sensors for numerous applications.

Currently, sensors have a wide range of benefits, resulting in innovations from companies and increased ROI in data-driven and connected technologies. More sensors are being employed in the industrial sector, with firms embracing industrial IoT to ensure predictive maintenance, factory automation, and using collaborative robots with workers. They have enabled the creation and use of new applications for smart agriculture and vertical farming. Remote operations of solar and wind farms and energy storage facilities with higher efficiency are available now. Advanced lidar and image sensors for autonomous and driver-assist systems have the potential to increase transportation safety. Sensors also help transportation electrification, specifically in battery management systems that need exact voltage and temperature sensing to function safely.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Covid-19

The rapid increase of sensors is a confluence of trends and products incorporating connected smart device technologies and automation are the main causes of the rapid increase of sensors. The pandemic has elevated the awareness of using sensors to protect public health. The concept of protecting customers and employees led companies to integrate temperature monitoring into their building access systems.

Although the post-pandemic era has mitigated the threat of the virus, companies have continued to monitor air quality, particularly in public buildings, schools, and workplaces. Offices and industrial spaces use next-generation sensors for indoor air quality that help companies detect their workplace to improve HVAC system efficiency and the health of the employees.

Cables and connectors

Innovators are required to change design elements, specifically sensor connectors, with the use of sensors across various devices and applications. An augment in the volume of data generated needs faster data rates. Cables require EMI/RFI shielding to guarantee data is transmitted reliably. Employing sensors outdoors and in fatal environments means that the sensor and the connector must have an IP rating of IP67 or above. In the medical environment, connectors require IP68 watertight sealing, safe mating with lock systems, and easy cleaning.

The approach is to deploy connectors, cables, and sensors nearer to the physical environment, such as by arranging a sensor on an automobile shaft. This will expose connectors to high temperatures, extreme vibrations, poor weather and chemicals. However, wireless sensor connections are witnessing a huge rise. Engineers can utilise remote applications with wireless sensors for automobile systems, remote generations, and wind turbines.

New Standards

Numerous connection interface protocols exist, and efforts are being made to standardise them to produce an International Electrotechnical Commission standard. A major approach is a single-pair ethernet, which will render full-duplex high speed. Reducing the overall costs and ensuring the cable has less weight means Ethernet is flexible for robotics in the newer generations of smart factories. Manufacturers will place a greater emphasis on making their connectors resistant to harsh environments, as well as improving the IP and dependability.