Data is the new oil. We’re now entering a new era of innovative modern information technology, in which the Internet of Things is on a rampant march of explosive growth and the importance of information and data is becoming increasingly prominent. Futuristic as IoT technology, you may be wondering who is the game-changer behind the IoT ecosystem that bridges the digital world to the physical one. That’s how IoT sensors(Internet of Things sensors)- the backbone of IoT solutions – are coming into our sights.
Internet of Things Sensors: the backbone of IoT Solutions
Generally speaking, Internet of Things sensors are pieces of hardware that detect changes in an environment and collect data. The sensor itself is useless, but it plays a vital role when we deploy it in an IoT ecosystem. IoT sensors serve to collect data, communicate and share them with the connected devices of the entire network. All of this collected data enables devices to run autonomously, thus making the entire ecosystem “smarter” every day.
Being the foundation of an IoT ecosystem, sensors provide devices with the ability to collect data and make things happen. Without sensors detecting external information, IoT may become a useless heap of technology. Since there is a wide variety of IoT sensors, almost all the physical properties around us can be measured. Pretty much common sensors are now widely adopted in various fields including medical care, logistics, industry, agriculture, transportation, tourism, disaster prevention, education, and many more.
Different types of Internet of Things sensors
Sensor types vary depending on the sensing object they are intended to measure. Though come in different shapes and sizes, smart sensors are essential IoT components capable of converting the real variables they measure into streaming digital data that can be transmitted to gateways. Down below are some of the most widely used sensors in the IoT world.
7 popular IoT sensors from MOKOSmart
Temperature sensor
Its name tells us that a temperature sensor measures how much heat is generated from an area or object. It’s not hard to think of refrigerators, air conditioners, and other functions with temperature sensors. Temperature sensors can detect temperature changes so we can perform various tasks from cold chain logistics to environmental monitoring.
Humidity sensor
Just as temperature sensors, humidity sensors measure the air or a specific environment’s amount of moisture. It detects humidity changes. Typically, temperature and humidity sensors are integrated, they are the most basic sensors used in smart homes, offices, agriculture, and pharmaceutical storage.
PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensors monitor movement by sensing changes in infrared radiation. They can monitor physical movement of man, animals and objects in any given region from your home to commercial spaces. PIR motion sensors are crucial for security systems protecting against intrusions; as well as for smart buildings, making the best use of space and energy efficiency.
You may have heard about Time of Flight(ToF) technology, which measures the distance to objects by calculating the time it takes for photons to travel to the target and back. ToF sensors are widely used for real-time usage and occupancy monitoring.
Applications of our ToF range sensors:
- Fill level detection of soap dispensers, tissue boxes, or trash cans
- Restroom occupancy monitoring
- Inventory level monitoring and stock count
Door and window sensors detect whether a door/window is open or closed, typically using magnetic contacts. It uses a magnet to control a circuit that can trigger an alarm or notification. Door sensors will alert your smartphone if someone else opens your door or window. They are widely used in security systems to monitor access points and unauthorized entry.
Smart parking sensors detect the presence or absence of vehicles in parking spaces. Usually, it is installed in individual parking spots or integrated into some larger parking management system. Common applications include:
- Display real-time occupancy and automate payments in parking garages
- Providing parking availability in malls, airports, etc.
- Corporate campuses optimize employee and visitor parking allocation
- Municipalities analyze parking patterns to inform urban planning decisions
Water leakage sensor
Water leakage sensors are built to detect and alert users about the presence of water or moisture in an unintended area. They are crucial components in smart home and industrial IoT systems since they act as early warning of potential water damage. In particular, they can provide alerts to residents early in flood-prone areas.
Other 6 types of IoT sensors trending in the market
Air quality sensor
Smart homes and industrial facilities now rely more on air quality sensors to maintain healthy indoor environments. They can measure the pollution, CO2, and other particulates in the air and other factors. These data can give potential health risk indications or environmental state information.
Water quality sensor
Water is as essential as air for the smooth going of life, so water quality sensors are widely put in use for measuring water quality. It evaluates key indicators like dissolved oxygen, pH levels, turbidity, conductivity, temperature, and total dissolved solids in the water. The recently ended Paris 2024 Olympic Games utilized water quality sensors to monitor the Seine River for swimming events.
Sound level sensor
Also known as noise sensors, sound level sensors constantly monitor the intensity of sound in a given environment. They can detect the decibel level in an environment and can even determine the amount of noise in a city block. Industries that use them include concert venues, industrial facilities, urban planning, and workplace safety monitoring.
Gas detection sensor
Gas detection sensors detect whether specific gas is present and how much of it is in the air, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide. They are critical for safety in industrial environments, detecting potentially harmful or explosive gases. Some of these sensors also monitor carbon monoxide in smart homes to keep residents safe. When that gas level goes above safe thresholds, the sensors trigger alarms.
Soil moisture sensor
Converting soil water content into electronic signals for real-time monitoring and data logging, soil moisture sensors have found deployment in precision agriculture, irrigation systems, greenhouse management, landscaping, and smart gardens. These sensors can be found wherever systems need to ‘sense’ ground water conditions to enable efficient water management and plant care.
Smoke sensor
The task of smoke sensors is to detect changes in smoke particle concentration in the surrounding air. Notification will be sent to the monitoring administrator in the case of any deviation from the standard smoke-free environment. One application is in residential buildings, such as kitchen areas, to make sure the occupants’ safety matches the expected protection level.
Considerations when choosing IoT sensors
More and more businesses are realizing that IoT devices or sensors can bring greater efficiency and increased profitability, but many struggle to choose the right Internet of Things sensors to meet their specific needs. Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors that you can take into consideration when choosing IoT sensors.
- Accuracy: The accuracy of the oT sensors is put first. It takes a great part especially when precise information tracking or measurement is required.
- Cost: Budget comes next. The cost of the sensors should be as low as possible so that the implementation of a use case can be feasible.
- Connectivity: Due to the diversity of communication protocols in IoT networks, connectivity is a key component in the IoT ecosystem. Sensors should be compatible with more communication protocols.
- Longevity: IoT devices can take a long time to deploy and maintain remotely, so it’s important to consider their longevity. The stronger the battery, the better the life performance of IoT sensors.
- Security: In terms of sensor security, attention must be paid to sensor vendors whether they can handle security issues properly and avoid any data disclosure.
The future of IoT sensors market progress
According to Next Move Strategy Consulting, the global sensor market is projected to more than double in size from 151.40 billion in 2020 to 431.21 billion dollars in 2030. While the growth of the IoT market is hampered by COVID-19 in the short term, the trend is toward smart sensors in the coming years. This is due to the numerous advantages of sensors such as increased productivity, high current capability, ease of installation, and reduced overall cost, as well as other factors such as the explosion in IoT technologies, development of smart cities, rising usage of smartphones, and other technological advancements.
As we continue to step into a more connected world, IoT devices and sensors are increasingly finding their way into our day-to-day lives. No longer confined to our homes or industries, IoT applications are no longer out of reach. If you want to know more about IoT sensors and similar IoT devices, then please do not hesitate to request a consultation today.
FAQs about IoT Sensors
- What is the Internet of Things sensor data?
IoT sensor data refers to the data collected by smart sensors and devices in any Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. These sensors and devices can range from large objects like a car to small gadgets like a thermostat. Once collected, data can be transmitted to the networks for further analysis and instructions.
- What data do IoT sensors collect?
Due to the wide variety of Internet of Things sensors, the same is true of the data collected by sensors. Sensors can collect an immense amount of information about their surroundings including temperature, humidity, light, location position, activity level, movement tracking, attendance of students, and many more.
- What are the advantages of IoT sensors?
The advantages of IoT sensors are numerous, including:
- Collect data on processes and assets in real-time
- High current capability
- Monitor processes and assets accurately, continuously, and reliably
- Increased productivity and reduced total cost
- Lower energy wastage
- How do sensors work in general?
By changing its electrical properties, the sensor can respond to changes in physical conditions. In simple terms, sensors convert stimuli such as heat, light, sound, and motion into electrical signals, which are converted into binary code by an electronic system and passed on to a computer for processing.
