8.

0 Sensor and sensing

Technology
 1.0 Objective

At the end of the lesson, student will be able

to describe:
• Recognize sensor terminologies
• Types of sensor and sensor technology
design consideration
• Function and application of sensor
 Introduction
A device which senses and detects the physical quantity of measurand and converts to
electrical form.
• Example of sensors:
• Mechanical : Bourdon tube pressure meter.
• Electrical : Potentiometer
• Optical : Photon counter
• Chemical : Thermocouples

*All sensors are transducers but not all transducers are sensors
In this lecture we also discuss

I. Sensors and the Environment

II. Sensor Development

III. Current Sensors – Terrestrial / Aquatic

IV. The next phase of In-Situ Sensors

V. Current Opportunities / Future Outlook

 Sensor Technology - Terminology

• Transducer is a device which transforms energy

from one type to another, even if both energy types
are in the same domain.
– Typical energy domains are mechanical, electrical,
chemical, magnetic, optical and thermal.
• Transducer can be further divided into Sensors,
which monitors a system and Actuators, which
impose an action on the system.
– Sensors are devices which monitor a parameter of a
system, hopefully without disturbing that parameter.
 Sensor in control system
• In a simplified definition - an input of the required value of some
variable and an output of the variable at the desired value.
OUTPUT
INPUT
CONTROL
SYSTEM
The required The variable at
value of a the desired
variable value
 The Basic Elements
Control systems consist of the following essential elements, or components.
• A measuring device which reacts to the machinery or process parameter to
be controlled, such as temperatures, pressure or rotational speed.
• In its simplest form, where only a single measurement value is required, this
could be a temperature, pressure or centrifugal switch. For measurement
throughout a whole range of values a transducer would be employed having
all or some of the following components:
– A sensing element which possesses some property which varied with changes in
the parameter to be measured. For instance, increasing temperature causes
mechanical bending of a bi-metallic strip, increase in the electrical resistance of a
coil of platinum wire and increase or decrease in the electrical resistance of a
thermistor, depending on its type.
– A conversion device to produce an output signal in a form that the control system
can use. There are standardised ranges of output signal so, in the above
examples, a pneumatic signal in the pressure range 0.2 – 1.0 bar could be
produced by the movement of the bi-metallic strip against a nozzle, or the
resistance values could be converted to 4 – 20 mA current signals, or voltages in
the 0 – 10 V resistance or thermocouple devices.
 The Basic Elements
• Conversion devices usually involve some degree of amplification of the
signal from the sensor and produce output signals which can be
transmitted for some distance without loss of accuracy. For long distance
transmission the signal must be converted to a form which does not loose
accuracy even though the signal strength is diminished. This could be a
frequency modulated (FM) voltage signal or a serial digital transmission.

– Compensation arrangements to protect the output signal from variation due to

changes in parameters other than the one being measured. For instance,
pressure transducers which employ strain gauges on diaphragms or tubes are
provided with dummy gauges to compensate for changes in ambient
temperature.

• A controller, which evaluates the deviation, i.e. the difference between the
measured value and the desired value of the controlled condition (the set
point value) and determines the output control signal, i.e. the setting of the
actuator at any given time. Types and actions of controllers are discussed
later.
• An actuator or other similar final controlling element, which performs the
necessary correcting action, such as an electric motor to open or close a
valve.
 Sensors

Definition: a device for sensing a physical variable of a

physical system or an environment

Classification of Sensors
• Mechanical quantities: displacement, Strain, rotation
velocity, acceleration, pressure, force/torque, twisting,
weight, flow
• Thermal quantities: temperature, heat.
• Electromagnetic/optical quantities: voltage, current,
frequency phase; visual/images, light; magnetism.
• Chemical quantities: moisture, pH value
 Sensors
• USE: To understand and interpret the environment.
• IN-SITU (vs. Remote): a) detectors at sight
b) higher resolution
c) means to ground truth

• DETECTION:
a) physical – heat, pressure, humidity, light,
sound
b) chemical – gas, liquid, solid, organics /
inorganics
c) biological – gas signature, DNA, protein,
acoustics
 Categorization of Sensor

• Classification based on physical phenomena

– Mechanical: strain gage, displacement (LVDT), velocity (laser
vibrometer), accelerometer, tilt meter, viscometer, pressure, etc.
– Thermal: thermal couple
– Optical: camera, infrared sensor
– Others …
• Classification based on measuring mechanism
– Resistance sensing, capacitance sensing, inductance sensing,
piezoelectricity, etc.
• Materials capable of converting of one form of energy to
another are at the heart of many sensors.
– Invention of new materials, e.g., “smart” materials, would permit
the design of new types of sensors.
Paradigm of Sensing System Design

Zhang & Aktan, 2005

 Instrumentation Considerations

• Sensor technology;
• Sensor data collection topologies;
• Data communication;
• Power supply;
• Data synchronization;
• Environmental parameters and influence;
• Remote data analysis.
 Measurement

Physical Measurement
phenomenon Output

Measurement output:
• interaction between a sensor and the environment surrounding
the sensor
• compound response of multiple inputs

Measurement errors:
• System errors: imperfect design of the measurement setup and
the approximation, can be corrected by calibration
• Random errors: variations due to uncontrolled variables. Can be
reduced by averaging.
 Specifications of Sensor
• Accuracy: error between the result of a
measurement and the true value being
measured.
• Resolution: the smallest increment of measure
that a device can make.
• Sensitivity: the ratio between the change in the
output signal to a small change in input physical
signal. Slope of the input-output fit line.
• Repeatability/Precision: the ability of the
sensor to output the same value for the same
input over a number of trials
 Accuracy vs. Precision

Precision without Accuracy without Precision and

accuracy precision accuracy
 Specifications of Sensor
• Dynamic Range: the ratio of maximum recordable input
amplitude to minimum input amplitude, i.e. D.R. = 20 log
(Max. Input Ampl./Min. Input Ampl.) dB
• Linearity: the deviation of the output from a best-fit straight
line for a given range of the sensor
• Transfer Function (Frequency Response): The
relationship between physical input signal and electrical
output signal, which may constitute a complete description
of the sensor characteristics.
• Bandwidth: the frequency range between the lower and
upper cutoff frequencies, within which the sensor transfer
function is constant gain or linear.
• Noise: random fluctuation in the value of input that causes
random fluctuation in the output value
 Attributes of Sensors
• Operating Principle: Embedded technologies that make
sensors function, such as electro-optics, electromagnetic,
piezoelectricity, active and passive ultraviolet.
• Dimension of Variables: The number of dimensions of
physical variables.
• Size: The physical volume of sensors.
• Data Format: The measuring feature of data in time;
continuous or discrete/analog or digital.
• Intelligence: Capabilities of on-board data processing and
decision-making.
• Active versus Passive Sensors: Capability of generating
vs. just receiving signals.
• Physical Contact: The way sensors observe the
disturbance in environment.
• Environmental durability: is the sensor robust enough
for its operation conditions
 Consideration for Strain Gauges sensor
technolology
• Foil strain gauge
– Least expensive
– Widely used
– Not suitable for long distance
– Electromagnetic Interference
– Sensitive to moisture & humidity

• Vibration wire strain gauge

– Determine strain from freq. of AC signal
– Bulky

• Fiber optic gauge

– Immune to EM and electrostatic noise
– Compact size
– High cost
– Fragile
 Strain Sensing

• Resistive Foil Strain Gage

– Technology well developed; Low cost
– High response speed & broad frequency
bandwidth
– A wide assortment of foil strain gages
commercially available
– Subject to electromagnetic (EM) noise,
interference, offset drift in signal.
– Long-term performance of adhesives used for
bonding strain gages is questionable
• Vibrating wire strain gages can NOT be
used for dynamic application because of
their low response speed.
• Optical fiber strain sensor
 Strain Sensing
• Piezoelectric Strain Sensor
– Piezoelectric are ceramic-based or Piezoelectric polymer-based
(e.g., PVDF)
– Very high resolution (able to measure nanostrain)
– Excellent performance in ultrasonic frequency range, very high
frequency bandwidth; therefore very popular in ultrasonic
applications, such as measuring signals due to surface wave
propagation
– When used for measuring plane strain, can not distinguish the
strain in X, Y direction
– Piezoelectric ceramic is a brittle material (can not measure large
deformation)

Courtesy of PCB Piezotronics

 Acceleration Sensing
• Piezoelectric accelerometer
– Nonzero lower cutoff frequency (0.1 – 1 Hz for 5%)
– Light, compact size (miniature accelerometer weighing
0.7 g is available)
– Measurement range up to +/- 500 g
– Less expensive than capacitive accelerometer
– Sensitivity typically from 5 – 100 mv/g
– Broad frequency bandwidth (typically 0.2 – 5 kHz)
– Operating temperature: -70 – 150 C

Photo courtesy of PCB Piezotronics

 Acceleration Sensing

• Capacitive accelerometer
– Good performance over low frequency range, can measure
gravity!
– Heavier (~ 100 g) and bigger size than piezoelectric
accelerometer
– Measurement range up to +/- 200 g
– More expensive than piezoelectric accelerometer
– Sensitivity typically from 10 – 1000 mV/g
– Frequency bandwidth typically from 0 to 800 Hz
– Operating temperature: -65 – 120 C

Photo courtesy of PCB Piezotronics

Accelerometer
 Force Sensing

• Metal foil strain-gage based (load cell)

– Good in low frequency response
– High load rating
– Resolution lower than piezoelectricity-based
– Rugged, typically big size, heavy weight

Courtesy of Davidson Measurement

 Force Sensing

• Piezoelectricity based (force sensor)

– lower cutoff frequency at 0.01 Hz
• can NOT be used for static load measurement
– Good in high frequency
– High resolution
– Limited operating temperature (can not be used for high
temperature applications)
– Compact size, light

Courtesy of PCB Piezotronics

 Displacement Sensing

• LVDT (Linear Variable Differential

Transformer):
– Inductance-based electromechanical
sensor
– “Infinite” resolution
• limited by external electronics
– Limited frequency bandwidth (250 Hz
typical for DC-LVDT, 500 Hz for AC-LVDT)
– No contact between the moving core and
coil structure Photo courtesy of MSI
• no friction, no wear, very long operating
lifetime
– Accuracy limited mostly by linearity
• 0.1%-1% typical
– Models with strokes from mm’s to 1 m
available
 Displacement Sensing

• Linear Potentiometer
– Resolution (infinite), depends on?
– High frequency bandwidth (> 10 kHz)
– Fast response speed
– Velocity (up to 2.5 m/s) Photo courtesy of Duncan Electronics

– Low cost
– Finite operating life (2 million cycles) due to contact
wear
– Accuracy: +/- 0.01 % - 3 % FSO
– Operating temperature: -55 ~ 125 C
 Displacement Transducer

• Magnetostrictive Linear Displacement Transducer

– Exceptional performance for long stroke position measurement
up to 3 m
– Operation is based on accurately measuring the distance from a
predetermined point to a magnetic field produced by a movable
permanent magnet.
– Repeatability up to 0.002% of the measurement range.
– Resolution up to 0.002% of full scale range (FSR)
– Relatively low frequency bandwidth (-3dB at 100 Hz)
– Very expensive
– Operating temperature: 0 – 70 C

Photo courtesy of Schaevitz

 Displacement Sensing

• Differential Variable Reluctance Transducers

– Relatively short stroke
– High resolution
– Non-contact between the measured object and sensor

Type of Construction Standard tubular

Fixing Mode by 8mm diameter

Total Measuring Range 2(+/-1)mm

Pneumatic Retraction No
Repeatability 0.1um Courtesy of Microstrain, Inc.

Operating Temperature -10 to +65

Limits degrees C
 Velocity Sensing

• Scanning Laser Vibrometry

– No physical contact with the test object; facilitate remote,
mass-loading-free vibration measurements on targets
– measuring velocity (translational or angular)
– automated scanning measurements with fast scanning speed
– However, very expensive

Photo courtesy of Bruel & Kjaer

Photo courtesy of Polytec

 Shock (high-G) Sensing

• Shock Pressure Sensor

– Measurement range up to 69 MPa (10 ksi)
– High response speed (rise time < 2 µ sec.)
– High frequency bandwidth (resonant
frequency up to > 500 kHz)
– Operating temperature: -70 to 130 C
– Light (typically weighs ~ 10 g)
Photo courtesy of PCB Piezotronics

• Shock Accelerometer
– Measurement range up to +/- 70,000 g
– Frequency bandwidth typically from 0.5 –
30 kHz at -3 dB
– Operating temperature: -40 to 80 C
– Light (weighs ~ 5 g)
 Angular Motion Sensing (Tilt Meter)

• Inertial Gyroscope (e.g., http://www.xbow.com)

– used to measure angular rates and X, Y, and Z acceleration.

• Tilt Sensor/Inclinometer (e.g., http://www.microstrain.com)

– Tilt sensors and inclinometers generate an artificial horizon and
measure angular tilt with respect to this horizon.

• Rotary Position Sensor (e.g., http://www.msiusa.com)

– includes potentiometers and a variety of magnetic and capacitive
technologies. Sensors are designed for angular displacement less
than one turn or for multi-turn displacement.

Photo courtesy of MSI and Crossbow

 Micro-Electric Mechanical
Systems (MEMS)

-gathers biological, chemical, - act as a switch

physical environmental data or trigger, activate
external device.
(eyes, nose, ears . . .)

- valves, pumps,
– receives data, processes it, micro-fluidics
decides what to do based
on data
(brains)
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/seor/student_project/syst101_00b/team07/components.html
 MEMS Technology

• What is MEMS?
– Acronym for Microelectromechanical Systems
– “MEMS is the name given to the practice of making and
combining miniaturized mechanical and electrical components.”
– K. Gabriel, SciAm, Sept 1995.
• Synonym to:
– Micromachines (in Japan)
– Microsystems technology (in Europe)

• Leverage on existing IC-based fabrication techniques (but now

extend to other non IC techniques)
– Potential for low cost through batch fabrication
– Thousands of MEMS devices (scale from ~ 0.2 µ m to 1 mm)
could be made simultaneously on a single silicon wafer
 MEMS Technology

• Co-location of sensing,
computing, actuating, control,
communication & power on a
small chip-size device
• High spatial functionality and fast
response speed
– Very high precision in manufacture
– miniaturized components improve
response speed and reduce power
consumption
MEMS Fabrication Technique

Courtesy of A.P. Pisano, DARPA

 Distinctive Features of MEMS Devices

• Miniaturization
– micromachines (sensors and actuators) can handle
microobjects and move freely in small spaces
• Multiplicity
– cooperative work from many small micromachines may be
best way to perform a large task
– inexpensive to make many machines in parallel
• Microelectronics
– integrate microelectronic control devices with sensors and
actuators
Fujita, Proc. IEEE, Vol. 86, No 8
 MEMS Accelerometer

• Capacitive MEMS
accelerometer
– High precision dual axis
accelerometer with signal
conditioned voltage outputs, all
on a single monolithic IC
– Sensitivity from 20 to 1000
mV/g
– High accuracy
– High temperature stability
– Low power (less than 700 uA
typical)
– 5 mm x 5 mm x 2 mm LCC
package
– Low cost ($5 ~ $14/pc.)

Courtesy of Analog Devices, Inc.

 MEMS Accelerometer

• Piezoresistive MEMS accelerometer

– Operating Principle: a proof mass attached to a silicon
housing through a short flexural element. The implantation of
a piezoresistive material on the upper surface of the flexural
element. The strain experienced by a piezoresistive material
causes a position change of its internal atoms, resulting in the
change of its electrical resistance
– low-noise property at high frequencies

Courtesy of JP Lynch, U Mich.

 MEMS Dust
• MEMS dust here has the same scale as a
single seed - something so small and light
that it literally floats in the air.

Source: Distributed MEMS: New Challenges for Computation, by

A.A. BERLIN and K.J. GABRIEL, IEEE Comp. Sci. Eng., 1997
 Major Ecological Focal Points
• GLOBAL CHANGE
– Nature and pace of climate change?
* Requires – A global heat and water balance (ocean, land, atm)

– Nature and pace of biological change?

* Requires – census of life & functional role of biodiversity
Who’s there? How many? What are they doing?

• BIOCOMPLEXITY
– Understanding patterns & processes across
a) levels of organization: molecular  global
b) across space and time: arctic  tropical
 Terrestrial

Physical Biological Chemical

 Sap Flow Sensors

• FUNCTION: Measures Sap Velocity g/hr (transpiration)

• APPLICATION: herbs, grasses, shrubs, trees
• PRINCIPLE: thermocouples (heat), plant energy balance
• PROS: Real-Time, No calibration, non-intrusive
http://www.dynamax.com/
• CONS: need many, not wireless
• COMPANY: Dynamax, Advanced Measurements
and Controls Inc, Delta-T
• COST: $200 - $3500+
 Radio & Acoustic Telemetry

- http://www.lotek.com/
• FUNCTION: Organism tracking & Sensing
• APPLICATION: Birds, Bats, Fish, Reptiles, Mammals
• PRINCIPLE: Micro-sensors (position, pressure, temp),
Radio & Acoustic waves
http://www.holohil.com/lb2pic.htm
• PROS: Wireless, Small, Long use history, No calibration,
Real-time option
• CONS: Intrusive, Power limitations
• COMPANY: Lotek, Telonics Inc, Holohil Systems Ltd
• COST: $135 - $350+
 Minirhizotron

• FUNCTION: Soil observatory

• APPLICATION: Soils, Root studies, Soil fauna

• PRINCIPLE: Video, Magnification

• PROS: Non-destructive, Small, 100x

magnification, soon Automated

• CONS: Manual, Physical data only

• COMPANY: Bartz Technology

• COST: $13,000 - $16,500+

http://www.bartztechnology.com/products.htm
 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

• FUNCTION: 3-D ground mapping

• APPLICATION: Soils, Roots,
Groundwater, Rocks,
Nests, Forests, Lakes,
Deserts, Ice . . .
• PRINCIPLE: EM wave propagation
• PROS: Non-invasive, Rapid,
Hi-resolution, Long use history
• CONS: Depth limitation,
• COMPANY: Sensors & Software Inc.,
GeoModel, Inc.
• COST: varies

http://www.uwec.edu/jolhm/research/Brian/what_is_ground_penetrating_radar.htm
Aquatic Environments

Physical Biological Chemical

 Multi-Parameter Sondes

• FUNCTION: Measures 15 or more parameters including:

Temperature, pH, Nutrients, Gas, Chlorophyll
• APPLICATION: Fresh & Marine water
(physical, chemical)
• PRINCIPLE: Sensor cluster & Datalogger
• PROS: Multiple parameters simultaneously, Automated
• CONS:
• COMPANY: Hydrolab, In-Situ Inc, Advanced
Measurements and Controls Inc.
• COST: $3000 - $4000+
http://www.hydrolab.com/
 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

http://www.rdinstruments.com/ • FUNCTION: Currant and Wave velocity profiler

• APPLICATION: Oceans, Rivers, Discharge
• PRINCIPLE: Doppler shift
• PROS: Real-time, Quick & Accurate
• CONS:
• CONTACTS: RD Instruments, Nortek, Sontek
• COST: $15,000 - $23,000
Wireless Moored Profiler
 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
(AUV)

Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE)

• FUNCTION: Automated ocean surveyors
• APPLICATION: Deep ocean surveys
• PRINCIPLE:Video, Temp, Salinity, Magnetometer,
Optical backscatter, Acoustic altimeter
• PROS: ‘Smart’, Autonomous, Multiple parameters
• CONS: Prototype
• COMPANY: Dana R. Yoerger - WHOI

http://www.dsl.whoi.edu/DSL/dana/abe_cutesy.html
 Video Plankton Recorder

http://science.whoi.edu/users/sgallager/vprwebsite/vprdraft.html

• FUNCTION: Autonomous plankton observatory

• APPLICATION: Oceans, Estuaries, Lakes
• PRINCIPLE: Video, Sensors
• PROS: Plankton imaged & environmental data measured,
‘real time’, autonomous
• CONS: Prototype
• COMPANY: Scott Gallager - WHOI
 BIOMAPER II
(BIo- Optical Multifrequency Acoustical and
Physical Environmental Recorder )

• FUNCTION: Aquatic biological assessment &

physical parameters
• APPLICATION: Oceans, Coasts
• PRINCIPLE: Acoustic & Optical sensors, CTD
Fluorescence, Salinity
• PROS: Robust biological assessment &
Environmental data
• CONS: Prototype
• COMPANY: Peter Wiebe - WHOI

http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/press/01/pr0130_progress.htm
 Digital Whale Tag

http://dtag.whoi.edu/tag.html

Copyright, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, The DTAG Project. Mark Johnson and Peter Tyack, funded by ONR, NMF

• FUNCTION: Acoustical, Physiological, and Environmental data (6-9 hrs)

• APPLICATION: Marine mammals (whales, dolphins, manatees etc)
• PRINCIPLE: Micro-sensors (pressure, hydrophone, temp, accelerometer)
VHF radio beacon
• PROS: Non-invasive, Compact, Re-useable, Over 2000m depth, Tag potted in epoxy,
• CONS: Suitability depends upon Movement and Skin quality, Challenging to apply
• COMPANY: Mark Johnson – WHOI
• COST: $10,000 – $15,000
 Mini-weather stations

Micro-hygrometer
• FUNCTION: Pressure, Temperature,
Micro-hygrometer, Radiation
Densitometer, Laser Doppler
anemometer
• APPLICATION: in-situ microclimate data
• PRINCIPLE: Micro-sensor clusters
• PROS: Accuracy, Fast response, Low mass &
Volume, Cheap
• CONS: not yet available
• COMPANY: JPL, GWU
JPL - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/technology/
• COST: will be relatively cheap
MANUFACTURABLE FOR LESS THAN $500

CYLINDRICAL RAIN GAGE

RUGGED FOR AIR DEPLOYMENT

PLASTIC LED PD
HOUSING

MICROCONTROLLER

MICRO-SENSOR
CLUSTER
WIND GAGE
(Temp, Pressure
& Humidity)

ANTENNA
INSIDE
BATTERY BATTERIES DRAIN
COMPARTMENT

FIVE CENTIMETER COMPANY - GWU

DIAMETER
 Portable Gas Chromatograph
•Alkanes
•Cyclo-Alkanes
•Alkenes
•Alcohols
•Aromatics
•Ketones
•Esters
•Organo
Phosphonates
•Pesticides
•Amines
•Pyridines
•Phenols
- http://www.femtoscan.com/evm.htm •Organic Acids
•Aldehydes
• FUNCTION: Vapor detector •Halides
• APPLICATION: Trace gases emissions
• PRINCIPLE: Ion mobility spectrometry, Gas chromatography
• PROS: Real-time, No carrier gas, ppb sensitivity, Hand portable, Reliable,
Good reproducibility
• CONS: Expensive
• COMPANY: Femtoscan, HAPSITE
• COST:
 Chem-lab on a chip

• FUNCTION: Autonomous chemical detector

• APPLICATION: Gas, Liquid, DNA
• PRINCIPLE: GC/LC separator &
coated SAW array
• PROS: Ppb level detection, Gas & Liquid, Small
• CONS: not yet available
• COMPANY: Sandia, Eksigent Technologies
• COST: ~$5000

http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2000/labchip.htm
 Electronic Nose (s)
zNose ©

http://www.estcal.com/Products.html

• FUNCTION: ID gases and quantify concentrations (ppb- ppt)

• APPLICATION: Air, Water, Soil, Plant volatiles. . .
• PRINCIPLE: SAW sensor(s) & Micro-GC
• PROS: Quick (10 sec), Small, Sensitivity, Remote option
• CONS:
• COMPANY: Estcal, JPL
• COST: $19, 450 - $24, 950+
 Electronic Tongue

• FUNCTION: ID chemical composition of liquids

• APPLICATION: Dissolved organics & inorganics,
Aquatic mold growth, Soil analysis
• PRINCIPLE: 100’s of microsensors on chip,
Colors change depending on chemicals,
Results read by camera on a chip
• PROS: Cheap, Disposable, Qualitative, Quantitative,
Several analyses simultaneously
• CONS: not commercially available in US
• COMPANY: ALPHA M.O.S, Vusion, Inc.
UT Austin, JPL
• COST: Inexpensive

http://www.alpha-mos.com/proframe.htm http://www.businessplans.org/Vusion/Vusion00.html
Sensor Webs

• FUNCTION: Wireless microsensor clusters for

Spacial and Temperal monitoring
• APPLICATION: Terrestrial, Atmosphere, Gases
• PRINCIPLE: Microsensor clusters, RF telemetry
• PROS: Small, Wireless, Low power, Custom sensor
design, Affordable, Available, Information
shared between pods
• CONS:
• COMPANY: Kevin Delin – JPL
• COST: $750 / pod
 Nano-Technology

• Nano-scale size
• Constructed atom / molecule at a time
• Self-repairing
• Self-assembling – ex. carbon nanotubes
• Molecular switches (transistor) - UCLA
• Model – nature
• Still in development phase
Home Interior Flowchart
 MCU USB
USB Endpoint
Level 1/ Base TI MSP430F169

Station Block
Diagram RS-485 Transceiver

USB
RS-485 Bus
Optional USB
Quadrature alternative to RS-
Encoders 485 / Base Station
USB Endpoint
RS-485 Transceiver

8-bit Parallel Bus MCU SPI Bus

TI MSP430F149
PWM

1 Mb
Touch Sensors
Digital Flash
LCD Display
Potentiometer
 Areas of Opportunity
• Technological overlaps with NASA, DoE, DoD

• Opportunity to custom design arrays of sensor

clusters
– Sensors can be chosen specific to the research
question

• View interactions between levels of

organization

• Technological outlook
– Micro-technology: Present - 5+ years
– Nano-technology: 5 - 10+ years:
 Future Directions

Power
•

Automated data assimilation & analysis

•

Decreased costs
• Maintenance-free
–
Long-term
–

Increased miniaturization
•
 RF Telemetry
Smart Sensor Web Macro-organisms
Instrumenting the Environment

Micro-weather Sap Flow Sensor

Stations Array

Sensor Clustered
MEMS Insects

Minirhizotron
Array

Multiparameter
Soil Probes

‘Smart Dust’ tagged Insects

Automated E-tongue
E-nose
 Sensor Industry
• ADVANCES: smaller, faster, cheaper,
decreased power demand, ‘smart’, wireless . . .

• INDUSTRY:
a) Over 100 properties can be sensed
b) Over 2300 sensor suppliers . . .
 Major Areas of Sensor Development

• Governmental Focus
– DoD - miniaturization
– DoE - automation
– NASA - bio / chem detection
– NOAA - environmental sensing
– Health
- decreased power
• Private Sector - faster
– Communications
- ‘smarter’
– Electronics
- wireless
– Industrial
- remote / in-situ
 Examples of Micro-Sensor
Cluster Groups
• UC Berkeley – COTS – ‘Smart Dust’
• Michigan - WIMS (Wireless Integrated
Micro Systems)
• GWU - ‘Mini Weather Stations’
• NASA - JPL – Sensor Webs
• DoE – Sandia, Oak Ridge
• DoD – Naval Research Lab
 References

Zhang, R. and Aktan, E., “Design consideration for

sensing systems to ensure data quality”, Sensing
issues in Civil Structural Health Monitoring, Eded
by Ansari, F., Springer, 2005, P281-290
Structural health monitoring using scanning laser
vibrometry,” by L. Mallet, Smart Materials &
Structures, vol. 13, 2004, pg. 261