Sensor designers are pursuing software-defined (or programmable) sensors for their increased relevance and applications in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Automobiles are one market segment that can benefit from over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities and automakers have the resources to make significant changes to implement them. OTA updates are one way to future proof vehicles, […]
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Human presence detection and you
By Charles Pao, Senior Marketing Specialist at CEVA Mobile phones and tablets are getting more powerful, but if you’re serious about doing work (remotely), the dedicated work laptop still reigns supreme. Privacy and productivity have become increasingly important in this new paradigm of working anywhere. To help with both in the age of mobile computing, […]
How can mature sensors create new sensing opportunities?
Pulse oximetry (blood oxygen saturation level in %SpO2) and pulse rate (in beats per minute) have been performed with clamp on the finger measurements for many years. With their built-in display, they are intended for either a health care professional or even the user reading of the measurements. In some instances, these devices even provide […]
What sensors are used in AR/VR systems?
A wide range of sensor technologies is required to support augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) systems. Today’s AR/VR implementations are mostly focused on visual and audio interfaces and rely on motion tracking and listening/voice recognition sensors. That’s beginning to change with new types of sensors and various types of haptics being introduced. This FAQ […]
What’s an acoustic leak detector?
Acoustic leak detection sensor technologies rely on the fact that liquid and gas leaks are noisy. However, it’s not necessarily a noise that the human ear can detect, it can be in the ultrasonic region. Leaky water pipes are a significant environmental challenge — UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 6 states that clean (drinking) water […]
How can sensors help cleanup waterways?
Twenty years after its first-generation design was introduced (2002), iRobot’s Roomba has spawned many competitors for indoor cleanup and made several advancements to its initial capabilities. Interactive Autonomous Dynamic Systems (IADYS) has applied the autonomous robot concept to address cleaner and safer water in rivers, canals, lakes, ponds, shipyards and more. IADYS’ Jellyfishbot autonomously collects […]
How do sensors improve wind turbine performance?
Wind turbines are very complex machines. It takes a lot of sensors to ensure their continuous operation generating green energy. This FAQ reviews some of the sensors used to monitor wind turbine operations, such as: Eddy current sensors monitor the lubricating gap of the shaft, how the turbine shaft rotates both axially and radially inside […]
How are sensors involved in the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge?
Released earlier this year, the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan addresses several areas to safely get Americans back to their more normal routines. One of the key points of the Preparedness Plan is the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge (CAiBC). The CAiBC calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations of […]
How can a machine recognize hand gestures?
Gesture recognition is a user interface that allows computers to capture and interpret non-verbal communication, including facial expressions, head movements, body positioning, and hand motions as commands. Hand gestures are an increasingly common mode of computer control, and the types of sensors used to recognize hand gestures is growing. This FAQ briefly reviews how hand […]
Want to feel better?
With its 1-mm thick RoboSkin smart fabric sensor technology, BeBop Sensors, Inc. can provide tactile awareness for humanoid robots and prosthetics so they can feel interactions similar to humans. The skin-like coverings enable a true nervous system and human-like touch sensing of objects for any part of a robot including limbs, fingers, feet, head and […]