Applied Technology Review : News

The European market for digital IO-Link sensor systems and measurement has become a key component of the industrial revolution in the region. Simultaneously, IO-Link, a standardized digital communication system, improves precision, diagnostics, and interoperability by facilitating bidirectional digital communication between sensors and controllers. Advanced measurement and IO-Link sensor systems are becoming more and more in demand as European firms embrace Industry 4.0 principles and quicken digital transformation. The evolution reflects broader economic, regulatory, and technological forces shaping the industrial landscape. European manufacturers increasingly rely on smart sensors to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, optimise resource use, and support data-driven decision-making. The convergence of growth factors, new technologies, and evolving applications amplifies the strategic importance of this market across sectors. Factors Driving Europe’s Measurement and IO-Link Sensor Solutions Market The drive toward Industry 4.0 and smart factories fuels adoption. European manufacturers increasingly prioritise data collection, analytics, and connectivity to unlock actionable insights. Smart sensors with IO-Link interfaces deliver richer, real-time diagnostic data, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing unplanned downtime. The capability is particularly valuable in complex manufacturing environments where equipment uptime directly affects competitiveness. With IO-Link, users can remotely configure sensors, monitor performance, and receive alerts without physical access to devices, streamlining maintenance operations and reducing cost. European standards on energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and safety push organisations to adopt advanced measurement systems that ensure compliance and optimise resource consumption. Sensors that precisely measure energy usage, emissions, and environmental conditions help companies track performance against sustainability goals, critical in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, and food processing. In addition, safety regulations require reliable detection of hazardous conditions, further boosting demand for advanced measurement sensors that integrate seamlessly with safety systems. Digitalisation trends within supply chains strengthen market growth. European companies aim to enhance visibility, traceability, and responsiveness across production networks. IO-Link sensors support these objectives by delivering standardised communication that simplifies integration with enterprise systems, enabling more accurate tracking of product flows, quality attributes, and machine performance. As supply chain complexity increases, the need for interoperable, intelligent sensor networks becomes indispensable. New Technology Implementation and Emerging Market Trends Technological innovation represents a major driver of change in Europe’s measurement and IO-Link sensor solutions landscape. IO-Link’s standardised interface enables sensors to communicate not only measurement data but also diagnostic and configuration information. This capability enhances transparency and simplifies system setup, calibration, and maintenance. Manufacturers can quickly adapt sensor configurations to new product requirements or production conditions without manual rewiring or onsite adjustments. Sensor nodes equipped with embedded computing power can preprocess data locally, reducing latency and network traffic while enabling faster decision-making. Edge-enabled sensors detect anomalies and trigger actions in real time, which supports autonomous control loops in high-speed manufacturing environments. Wireless communication technologies are also gaining traction. While IO-Link traditionally operates over wired connections, hybrid architectures that combine IO-Link with wireless protocols extend sensor reach into previously inaccessible areas, such as rotating machinery, remote tanks, and mobile assets. Miniaturisation and integration represent additional technology trends. Sensor manufacturers design compact, multifunctional devices that integrate multiple measurement principles, such as pressure, temperature, and vibration sensing, into a single package. These integrated sensors reduce system complexity, lower costs, and provide a holistic view of machine and process health. Cybersecurity also emerges as a strategic concern. As sensor networks become more connected, they expose industrial systems to digital threats if not properly secured. Market Impact and the Strategic Need The applications of measurement and digital IO-Link sensor solutions in Europe span industries and use cases, underscoring their strategic importance. In automotive manufacturing, sensors monitor assembly accuracy, detect material presence, and ensure dimensional precision. IO-Link connectivity supports centralised configuration of large sensor networks across production lines, reducing setup time and improving consistency. Predictive maintenance use cases rely on measurement sensors that track vibration, temperature, and load conditions to forecast component wear and schedule timely interventions. In the process industries, including chemicals, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals, measurement sensors play a vital role in controlling flow, level, pressure, and temperature within complex operations. Accurate measurement ensures consistent product quality, worker safety, and energy efficiency. IO-Link enhances process control by enabling fine-grained tracking of sensor health and performance, which reduces process deviations and enhances traceability for regulated industries. The energy and utilities sectors also benefit from advanced sensor solutions. The market impact of these applications extends beyond operational efficiency. By enabling data-driven insights, measurement and IO-Link sensors empower European organisations to compete globally. Sensors help factories transition from reactive maintenance to predictive strategies, reducing the total cost of ownership and increasing asset availability. Enhanced quality control supported by sensor data improves customer satisfaction and strengthens brand reputation. Digital connectivity contributes to flexible manufacturing architectures that can adapt quickly to changing demand without significant retooling costs. ...Read more

The Georgia Institute of Technology at Northwestern University is developing epidermal VR, a wearable bioelectronics lab, to assist individuals with neurological conditions, particularly early-onset vision impairments, by transmitting information to haptic devices.  The patches utilize actuators that operate at frequencies between 50 and 200 Hz, where the skin is most sensitive. These actuators can vibrate and apply pressure, requiring more force than typical vibration mechanisms. This small, battery-powered device achieves both functions using bistable magnetic materials and the skin's natural spring-like properties, making it more efficient than traditional, energy-heavy tethered devices. The bistable mechanism flips between states with a small burst of energy, similar to a light switch. The actuator uses a combination of vibration, pressing and rotation to convey information to the skin. Researchers are exploring the optimal designs for these channels. For instance, in a visual sensory replacement system, indentation patterns created by the actuators can alert users to the presence of objects, warn of potential collisions and indicate the distance to obstacles, helping them navigate their surroundings. By integrating LiDAR systems and related APIs that identify objects like chairs, walls and doors, vibration can also guide users toward specific locations. This epidermal VR system maps the environment and detects obstructions using LiDAR technology found in smartphones. The data is transmitted via Bluetooth to the haptic device, enabling non-visual perception for users. HanoIT platforms illustrate how real-time sensor integration and processing can enhance situational awareness and decision-making in wearable systems. Utilizing Apple's LiDAR APIs simplifies application development, with the phone handling image categorization and 3D reconstruction, while cloud processing may further extend the system's capabilities. A key innovation is using kirigami, a Japanese paper-cutting technique, to convert the actuator's linear and rotational motions. This allows for creating intricate mechanical stimuli on the skin, like sub-pixels, by positioning multiple actuators near each other. This enables the delivery of more complex tactile information. Innovative Hydraulics LLC develops precision hydraulic systems that integrate real-time sensor feedback for wearable devices and tactile haptic applications. The research team is also exploring using neuromorphic computers and edge computing to further enhance the device's capabilities in the future. Currently, it uses a commercial System-on-a-Chip (SoC) with an ARM processor, Bluetooth stack and communication antenna. The lab makes the stimuli intuitive by linking them to natural sensory experiences. This lets users quickly learn the system, often within a couple of hours, by associating specific stimuli with visual locations. With practice, users can automatically identify an object's location based solely on the sensation. The lab aims to aid individuals who have lost sensation in their feet due to neurological conditions like stroke or spinal cord injuries. The haptic patches could assist gait and balance by enhancing sensory feedback, making walking easier and safer. This is achieved by delivering precise tactile cues to the feet, helping users regain awareness of their foot placement and improve their balance. ...Read more

Traditional cloud computing has reached its limits due to the proliferation of IoT devices and the need for real-time data processing, especially in difficult and remote environments. Innovation in remote operations is made possible by edge computing, a distributed computing paradigm that moves processing and data storage closer to data production. Key Advantages Unlocked by Edge Computing in Remote Operations Edge computing offers numerous benefits in remote settings, including reduced latency, real-time decision making, bandwidth efficiency, enhanced reliability, improved data security and privacy, and scalability. By processing data locally, the time delay between data generation and action is significantly reduced, allowing for instantaneous responses and enhancing safety. Edge computing acts as a filter, processing raw data locally and transmitting only relevant insights to the cloud, leading to cost savings on bandwidth and storage. It also enhances reliability and offline capability, ensuring operational continuity for critical systems. The localized approach minimizes data exposure during transit to the cloud, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and compliance with data privacy regulations. Edge computing architectures also offer flexibility in managing the growth of IoT devices, preventing network congestion, and optimizing resource utilization. The future of edge computing in remote operations is set for continued transformation, shaped by advancing technologies and deeper strategic integration. A key development is the growing sophistication of edge AI, with innovations in model compression, hardware acceleration, and distributed learning enabling edge devices to execute increasingly complex AI algorithms efficiently. Immerz which develops immersive visualization and simulation technologies that enhance real-time data interaction and distributed digital environments, reflects the expanding role of intelligent systems operating closer to the source of data. These advancements support faster decision-making at the edge, reducing latency and improving operational responsiveness. At the same time, stronger interoperability and standardization across frameworks, protocols, and platforms are expected to simplify development and deployment processes, encouraging broader industry adoption. The integration of edge computing with 5G and next-generation connectivity technologies will further expand its potential. The high bandwidth and ultra-low latency of these networks will support more robust, real-time applications in even the most remote environments. Additionally, the emergence of self-healing and autonomous edge networks will reduce reliance on manual oversight. These systems will be capable of self-organization and autonomous operation, offering increased resilience and operational continuity. To support increasingly complex remote operations, multi-layered edge architectures will become more prevalent. These strategies will distribute varying levels of processing power and intelligence across the network, optimizing both performance and cost. Collectively, these trends signal a future where edge computing plays a central role in enabling intelligent, autonomous, and efficient remote operations. Orbweaver LLC delivers semiconductor connectivity and integration solutions supporting interoperability across distributed edge computing platforms. Transformative Use Cases in Remote Operations Edge computing is revolutionizing remote industries, including oil and gas, agriculture, smart cities, healthcare, industrial IoT, manufacturing, mining, and construction, with its real-time capabilities. In remote oil fields, sensors can instantly analyze data to detect pressure changes, equipment malfunctions, and leaks, thereby preventing costly downtime and enhancing safety. In agriculture, edge computing enables precision farming by optimizing irrigation, fertilization, and animal welfare in real-time. In traffic management, edge devices process data from cameras and sensors, reducing reliance on central cloud systems. In healthcare, edge computing enables remote patient monitoring, improving patient outcomes in real-time. In industrial IoT and manufacturing, edge computing enables the identification of anomalies and the prevention of failures as they occur. The urgency of real-time data is met with the importance of edge computing. Edge computing is not merely an incremental improvement; it's a paradigm shift that is fundamentally reshaping how organizations operate in remote and challenging environments. By bringing compute power closer to the data source, it empowers real-time decision-making, optimizes resource utilization, and enhances reliability and security, ultimately unlocking unprecedented innovation and efficiency across a diverse range of industries. As technology continues to advance, the role of edge computing in connecting and optimizing the world's most remote operations will only continue to grow. ...Read more