Sensors and Actuators

Sections:
 Sensors
 Actuators
 Sensors

A sensor is a transducer that converts a physical

stimulus from one form into a more useful form to
measure the stimulus
 Two basic categories:
1. Analog
Ultrasonic
2. Discrete (distance)
 Binary
 Digital (e.g., pulse counter)

Light
(light intensity)
Sound Touch
(db pressure)
 Need for Sensors

 Sensors are omnipresent. They embedded in our

bodies, automobiles, airplanes, cellular
telephones, radios, chemical plants, industrial
plants and countless other applications.

 Without the use of sensors, there would be no

automation !!
Requirements of a sensor

• Sensitive
• Accurate
• Portable
Choosing a Sensor
 Different Types of Sensors

•LightSensor

• IR Sensor (IR Transmitter / IR LED)

• Photodiode (IR Receiver)
• Light Dependent Resistor
•Temperature Sensor

• Thermistor
• Thermocouple
•Pressure/Force/Weight Sensor

• Strain Gauge (Pressure Sensor)

• Load Cells (Weight Sensor)
•Position Sensor
Potentiometer
Encoder
•Hall Sensor (Detect Magnetic Field)
•Flex Sensor
•Sound Sensor
Microphone
•Ultrasonic Sensor
•Touch Sensor
•PIR Sensor
•Tilt Sensor
Accelerometer
•Gas Sensor
void loop() {
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
sensorInput = analogRead(A0); //read the analog sensor and store it
temp = (double)sensorInput / 1024; //find percentage of input reading
temp = temp * 5; //multiply by 5V to get voltage
temp = temp - 0.5; //Subtract the offset
temp = temp * 100; //Convert to degrees

Serial.print("Current Temperature: ");

Serial.println(temp);
}
 Actuators

Hardware devices that convert a controller command signal

into a change in a physical parameter
 The change is usually mechanical (e.g., position or
velocity)
 An actuator is also a transducer because it changes one
type of physical quantity into some alternative form
 An actuator is usually activated by a low-level command
signal, so an amplifier may be required to provide
sufficient power to drive the actuator
 Actuators

Logical Mechanism
Signal Signal Processing Electric Hydraulic
& Amplification Final Actuation
Pneumatic
Element

Actuator
Sensor
 Types of Actuators

1. Electrical actuators
 Electric motors
 DC servomotors
 AC motors
 Stepper motors
 Solenoids
2. Hydraulic actuators
 Use hydraulic fluid to amplify the controller
command signal
3. Pneumatic actuators
 Use compressed air as the driving force
Stepper motor and Servomotor
Servo
Motor
 Motor Controllers

The POSYS® 3004 (Designed & Made in Germany) is a PC/104 form factor board
dedicated to high performance motion control applications with extensive interpolation
functionality. The POSYS® 3004 is designed to control up to 4 axes of servo and stepper
motors and provides hardware linear, circular, Bit Pattern and continuous
interpolation which allow to perform the most complex motion profiles. Update rates
per axis do not exist as each axis runs in absolute real-time mode simultaneously which
makes these boards to one of the best performing motion controllers for up to 4 axes in
the market.
 Sensors Output Types

Analog Outputs
• The most widely used standards are current analog 4 to 20 mA and
voltage of 0-10 Vdc.
• There are others like 1-5 VDC, 0-20 mA and 20mA -20mA.

Digital output
• The two most common being RS 232 and RS485 we do not use
RS232 sensors due to the short cable lengths and the propensity to
be effected by Electrical noise.
• We instead use sensors employing RS 485 communication.
 Examples

• Washing Machine
• AC
• Automatic door
• Intrusion alert for homes
• Cruise control in Cars
QUIZ
What are the possible sensors that you can use to provide
a safe distance between two cars?

Ans:
Ultrasonic waves
Radar
Lidar