1.

Temperature senor- Temperature sensor that uses an

external diode-connected transistor as the sensing
element to measure temperatures external to the sensor
(for example, on a circuit board or on the die of a CPU).
Generally produces a digital output.
Voltage sensor-convert lower voltages to higher voltages
or high voltages to low.
Current sensor-Current sensors are electronic circuits
which monitor the current flow in a circuit and output
either a proportional voltage or a current. Most current
sensors output an analog voltage between 0V to 5V which
can be processed further using a microcontroller.
Distance sensor-This is a type of sensor which can detect
the presence of a nearby object within a given distance,
without any physical contact. The working principle of a
Proximity sensor is simple. A transmitter transmits an
electromagnetic radiation or creates an electrostatic field
and a receiver receives and analyzes the return signal for
interruptions. There are different types of Proximity
sensors and we will discuss only a few of them which are
generally used in robots. Most proximity sensors can also
be used as distance sensors, or commonly known as
Range Sensors; IR transceivers and Ultrasonic Sensors
are best suited for distance measurement
Position sensor-The name says it all. Positioning sensors
are used to approximate the position of a robot, some for
indoor positioning and few others for outdoor positioning.
Force sensor-A Force Sensor is defined as a transducer
that converts an input mechanical force into an electrical

output signal. Force Sensors are also commonly known as

Force Transducers.
Pressure sensor-As the name suggests, pressure sensor
measures pressure. Tactile pressure sensors are useful in
robotics as they are sensitive to touch, force and
pressure. If you design a robot hand and need to measure
the amount of grip and pressure required to hold an
object, then this is what you would want to use.
Humidity sensor-The relative humidity of an air-water
mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure of
water vapor (H2O) in the mixture to the saturated vapor
pressure of water at a given temperature. Thus the
relative humidity of air is a function of both water content
and temperature.
Light sensor-A Light sensor is used to detect light and
create a voltage difference. The two main light sensors
generally used in robots are Photoresistor and
Photovoltaic cells. Other kinds of light sensors like
Phototubes, Phototransistors, CCDs etc. are rarely used.
PH sensor-A pH Meter is a device used for
potentiometrically measuring the pH, which is either the
concentration or the activity of hydrogen ions, of an
aqueous solution. It usually has a glass electrode plus a
calomel reference electrode, or a combination electrode.
Contact sensor-A device which detects objects through
physical contact with them. These sensors may be used
in robots, for example, to determine the location, identity,
and orientation of parts to be assembled.
Sound sensor- As the name suggests, this sensor
(generally a microphone) detects sound and returns a

voltage proportional to the sound level. A simple robot

can be designed to navigate based on the sound it
receives. Imagine a robot which turns right for one clap
and turns left for two claps. Complex robots can use the
same microphone for speech and voice recognition.
Infrared sensor- A passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) is
an electronic sensor that measures infrared (IR) light
radiating from objects in its field of view. They are most
often used in PIR-based motion detectors.
2. Linear actuators- A linear actuator is a mechanical
device that converts energy (power from air, electricity or
liquid) to create motion in a straight line; contrasted with
circular motion of a conventional electric motor. It can
also be used to apply a force. Mostly a linear actuators
are used in robotic arms, legs, and grippers.
Rotational actuators- A rotary actuator is an actuator that
produces a rotary motion or torque. The simplest actuator
is purely mechanical, where linear motion in one direction
gives rise to rotation. The most common actuators though
are electrically powered.