SENSORS

-By ARPIT GUPTA

 What the hell is SENSOR?

As the name says, the sensors are the objects

that sense the external stimulus and converts it
in a form interpretable to the control system of
the body.
Our body also have sensors (also known as sense
organs) so as to sense the external stimulus and
send the signal to the brain accordingly.

The following image illustrates the functioning of

the various sensors in the human body:
So we may now define SENSOR in engineering
terms as :

A sensor is a device that measures a physical

quantity and converts it into a signal which can
be read by an observer or by an instrument.
 Different types of SENSOR :

There are many types of sensors. They are used to

measure and detect a huge variety of conditions
including:
Temperature, pressure, level, humidity, speed,
motion, distance, light or the presence of an object
and many other types.
 SENSORS

PROXIMITY ENVIRONMENTAL

Light
Mechanical Reflective
Pressure
Tactile Infrared Humidity
Switches
Visible Gases
Ultraviolet Temperature
Some Examples :
 Proximity Sensors

A proximity sensor is a sensor which is able to

detect the presence of nearby objects without any
physical contact.

It often emits an electromagnetic or electrostatic

field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation and
looks for changes in the field or return signal.
Mechanical Proximity Sensors
(also known as TACTILE SWITCHES)

 Have a cylindrical rod at the one

side.
 This rod bangs with the obstacle or
wall.
 This banging is sensed and motor
polarity changes.
 Ideal for Obstacle Sensor and Wall
Follower.
Reflective Proximity Sensors

 Infrared Sensors.
Visible Sensors.
 Ultra range Sensors.
 Infrared Sensors

A Pyroelectric InfraRed sensor (PIR sensor) is an

electronic device that measures infrared (IR) light
radiating from objects.PIR sensors are often used in the
construction of PIR-based motion detectors.

Apparent motion is detected when an infrared source

with one temperature, such as a human, passes in front
of an infrared source with another temperature, such as
a wall.
Application in Burglar Alarms :
(PID= Passive Infrared Detectors )

Typical residential PID front cover only PID with front cover
and/or commercial PID with point light source removed showing
with multi-Fresnel lens behind to show location of pyroelectric
cover. individual lenses. sensor (green arrow).
 Visible Light Sensors

Spectral response of these sensors is close to that of the

human eye.
Si photodiodes have internal visible compensation filter
while GaP and GaAsP photodiodes have spectral response
approaching to that of the human eye.
Generally used in and as Imaging Sensors(as in google
earth).
 Ultra-range Sensors

The SRF04 Ultra Sonic Ranger Module is a high quality

ultra sonic range finder, which can easily be connected to
many microcontroller's to measure/detect the presence of
obstacles.
Using a 5V supply and drawing from 30mA typical. to
50mA max. The SRF04 can be connected directly to many
micros without the need for a separate power supply.
 Environmental Sensors

These sensors are basically used to sense the

different environmental parameters like:
• Light
• Temperature
• Sound
• Pressure
•Humidity
• Gases
• Moisture
 Light can be sensed by :

(Photodiode)
(Phototransistor)

(TSOP)

(LDR) (Unique UV photodetector)

Temperature can be sensed by :

(Thyristors)
(Thermistors)

(Special Thermistors)
Sound can be sensed by :

(Microphone)

Pressure can be sensed by :

(Pressure Transducers)
 Humidity can be sensed by :

(RH&T Humidity Sensor)

(RH Humidity Sensor)
Using the above knowledge
of SENSORS, now we can
start building our BOTS as
per the requirement.