what is smart sensors and systems?

Question

what is smart sensors and systems?

Answer 1

The word 'smart' implies intelligence. While you can think of intelligence as artificial intelligence or AI, it doesn't have to be that complex. To me, 'smart' is a buzzword that can have multiple meaning depending upon the application.

The very basic elements a system needs to be considered 'smart' is some sort of sensing, processing, and actuation. Consider the automobile cruise control. The system senses the vehicle speed, computes whether it is less than or greater than the desired speed, and based on that, either increases or decreases the throttle.

Now, most smart systems are more complex than that. Suppose the amount of throttle increase were related to how slow you were going than desired, i.e. the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed. This improvement would require an upgrade in processing. Sometimes, the main objective is to reach the desired speed with the least amount of expended fuel. This can be done, but the computations require knowing how the car will respond to an increase in fuel (dynamics). In some applications (like an airplane) the dynamics keep changing depending upon what it's doing (taking off, landing, etc.) The control processing has to adapt itself based on the aircraft's flight regime. In the case of *really* complex systems, the dynamics are not known at all. In those instances, computer artificial intelligence is used to 'learn' the behaviors of the system, and control it properly.

Smart sensors typically incorporate some sort of adaptive filtering. Adaptive filtering basically means that a computer is figuring out over time what the signal properties are. A noise cancelling microphone (part of a pilot's headset) is one example. It determines the spectral (i.e. frequency) characteristics of the background noise, and filters it out when transmitting the pilot's voice. Over the radio, only the pilot's voice is heard, and not the engine noise. Suppose the engine's sound changes because the prop os spinning faster or slower. The adaptive filter will adapt to the new situation and adjust its filtering characteristics.

Answer 2

When i was going to school the computer science department got a research project called a 'smart home'. It was intended to be a hands off living experience aimed at helping the elderly or physically challenged to get by on a day to day basis. It included many features like powered automated blinds, voice recognition for user commands, using RF tags on food to keep track of what was used and when to order new stuff. It was intended to automate as many tasks as possible (though i don't think they had a robot to get things for a person). So, they were using the buzz term at the time and calling it a smart house.

Can't say I've heard of a smart sensor though...

Answer 3

In the fire alarm world, smart sensors are those which can detect more than one change in the environment, and report them to control equipment. Temperature, temperature change, smoke, flame and other conditions can be detected. Some detectors identify both the event and exact location of the event. Some can be individually set to different levels of sensitivity, either at the detector or from the control equipment.

Answer 4

it depends on what you are referring to? if you mean something like "smart skis", this is an integrated piezoelectic ceramic.. it coverts friction or kenetic motion into electricity. they can be made into many different uses though. they are the base of sound cancellation systems in high dollar luxury cars..