How sensor has been rocking our world?
Like the sense organs of human being, sensor are key instruments in securing information, and therefore, play a significant role in industrial production, defense construction and in the field of science and technology. However, in recent years, the development of sensor, the sense organ, is far behind the rapid development of computer, the brain. And automation and intelligentialize in measuring and control system are setting higher demands for sensor, which require not only higher accuracy, reliability, and stability, but also a certain abilities of data processing, self-test, self-calibration, and self-compensation. Traditional sensor, which is referred as dumbsensor by some insiders, can hardly meet these requirements. It was when the smart sensor enters the market.
The research of smart sensor across the world focuses in the field of science and technology, combining the technology of microcomputer and sensor, allowing the sensor to make full use of the computing and storage capacity of computer to process the data acquired. Generally speaking, a smart sensor features the following functions:
- Self-compensation ability
- Self-calibration function
- Self-diagnostic function
- Data-processing function
- Two-way communication function
- Information storage and memory functions
- Digital output function
Statistics show that the market size of sensor in the US in 2007 was US$235 million, and grew at a compound annual growth rate of 30% in the following years. Global Sensor Market is expected to garner $241 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 11.3 % during the forecast period 2016 – 2022.
Sensor is a device that detects physical input such as light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure, or any other entity, and responds by producing an output on a display or transmits the information in electronic form for further processing. The sensor find their applications various industries such as electronics, IT & telecommunication, automotive and healthcare among others.
In the current scenario, smart grid, smart homes, smart water networks, intelligent transportation are infrastructure systems that connect our world are trending. These systems are assembled through the use of sensor, and the entire physical infrastructure is closely coupled with information and communication technologies. Intelligent monitoring and management can be achieved via the usage of networked embedded systems, in which devices are interconnected to transmit useful measurement information and control instructions via distributed sensor networks.
The demand for sensor is globally expected to rise during the forecast period due to growing trend of internet of things (IoT) and industry 4.0, advancement in consumer electronic products, increasing usage of sensor in smartphones, and robust demand in automation industry. Moreover, surge in the automotive sector and growing demand of wearable devices open opportunities in the market.
The demand for sensor is expected to surge due to heavy investments on the R&D by many key players, including STMicroelectronics, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Sony Corporation, and others, leading to the improvement in sensing quality and efficiency. For instance, in October 2016, STMicroelectronics and HMicro together launched a single-chip product HC1100 for clinical-grade, disposable smart patches and biosensor. These smart patches and biosensor are especially designed for wired wearable devices such as vital sign monitoring and electrocardiogram. The growing need of these devices is anticipated to fuel up the demand in overall sensor market.
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