IOT

SENSOR ACTUATOR AND TRANSDUCER - INTRODUCTION

 IOT
• The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects that are
embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of
connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the
internet.

• The term IoT, or Internet of Things, refers to the collective network of

connected devices and the technology that facilitates communication between
devices and the cloud, as well as between the devices themselves.
IOT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
• In Internet everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive
data.

• Refers to the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items
embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, allowing them to
collect and exchange data.
• The IoT enables these devices to interact with each other and with the environment and
enables the creation of smart systems and services.
Transducer
• A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into another, such as converting
mechanical energy into electrical signals.
• On the other hand, a sensor is a device that detects and responds to a specific input, such as
light, temperature, pressure, or motion and converts it into a measurable output.
• An example
ACTUATORS
• An actuator is a machine component that moves or controls the
mechanism of the system.
• It is a device that converts energy into motion.
working
• It does this by taking an electrical signal and combining it with an
energy source.
• In an IoT system, the actuator can act on data collected by
sensors to create an outcome as determined by the chosen
settings of the user.
Introduction to transducers
• Transducers are elements that convert the input physical variable into a usable form. In most
cases, the output signal is in the form of an electrical signal.
Definition
• A transducer is a device or component that converts one form of energy into another i.e. it
converts a physical quantity or signal from one form to another

NON-ELECTRICAL SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL

QUANTITY SENSING TRANSDUCTION
RESPONSE

ELEMENT ELEMENT
Why do we need a transducer?
• To determine the exact magnitude of physical forces such as temperature and
pressure is difficult.
• physical forces are converted into an electrical signal, then their values can be
easily determined using a meter.
• The primary function of transducers is to convert a physical force into an electrical signal
so that it can be easily handled and transmitted for measurement.

Advantages

• Electrical signals are easily transmitted and processed for measurement.

• Electrical signals process less friction error.
• Small power is needed to control the electrical systems.
• Amplification and attenuation of electrical signals are easy.
• The measuring instrument used for measuring the electrical signal is very compact and
accurate.
 Parts of Transducers
A transducer consists of several key components that enable it to convert one form of energy into another.

• Sensing Element: This part of the transducer is in direct contact with the physical quantity to be measured
and detects any changes in the physical quantity and passes it to further elements of the transducer in form
of a signal.

• Transduction Element: In this element, the signal is converted from one from to another using different
operating principles such as piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity, electromagnetic induction, etc. depending
upon the type of transducer.
• Output Interface: This part of the transducer provides interface for transmission of the output signal
generated for further processing. This includes connectors, terminals, switches, etc.
• Housing: Transducers are often enclosed in a protective housing or casing to shield the internal components
from environmental factors such as moisture, dust, temperature variations, and mechanical shocks
Examples
• A transducer is an electronic device that converts energy from one form to another.
• Common examples include microphones, loudspeakers, thermometers, position and pressure
sensors, and antenna.
Types of Transducers

There are two types of transducers, as follows:

• Input Transducer
• Output Transducer
Input transducer or a sensor takes in physical energy and converts it into an electrical signal that
can be read. A microphone, for example, converts physical sound waves into an electrical signal that
can be transferred through wires.
output transducer
• An output transducer, or an actuator, takes in electrical signals and converts them into
other forms of energy. A lamp converts electricity into light and a motor, on the other hand,
converts electricity into motion.
INTRODUCTION TO SENSORS

• Sensor is a device that detects changes in the environment and responds by converting a physical
phenomenon into a measurable signal.
• This signal can be an analog voltage or a digital signal, and can be displayed to a human or
transmitted for further processing. Sensors are used in many applications
Sensors based on their detection properties.

Types Properties
• Thermal sensor Temperature, heat, flow of heat etc
• Electrical sensor Resistance, current, voltage, inductance, etc
• Magnetic sensor Magnetic flux density, magnetic moment, etc
• Optical sensor Intensity of light, wavelength, polarization, etc
• Chemical sensor Composition, pH, concentration, etc
• Pressure sensor Pressure, force etc
• Vibration sensor Displacement, acceleration, velocity, etc
• Rain/moisture sensor Water, moisture, etc
• Tilt sensors Angle of inclination, etc
• Speed sensor Velocity, distance etc
Components of a sensor
• The main components of a sensor are the sensing element, the interface element, and the signal
processing unit.
• These components work together to capture, convert, and translate data from the outside
environment into readable data
Examples of sensors
Temperature sensors
• A key component in smart devices, laptops, cars, and building automation.

Humidity sensors
• Used for quality control and monitoring of fluids like oil
Continues examples
Gas sensors
• The primary component is the gas sensing layer, which detects changes in gas
concentration and generates a change in electrical resistance

Chemical sensors
• The two main components are the sensing material and the transducer.
The target molecule interacts with the sensing material

Level sensors
• The main component is the sensor, which can be a point level detection or continuous
level measurement
Continues examples
Optical sensors
• Convert incident light rays into electrical signals.

Accelerometers
• Measure vibrations caused by force and transmit the
signal to the sensor processor.

Light sensors
• Consists of a light source, a sensing platform, light waveguides,
and a light detector.
 COMPONENTS OF A SENSOR
The main components of a sensor

(1) The sensing section contains the sensor itself which is based on a particular technology
(2) The processing circuitry converts the physical variable into an electrical variable.
(3) The signal output contains the electronics connected to a control system.
Introduction to Actuators
• An actuator is a device that converts energy into mechanical motion or action.
Actuators are used in machines to generate physical movements, such as in robotics,
construction equipment, and manufacturing machinery.
How they work
• Actuators receive a control signal, such as voltage, electric current, or hydraulic fluid
pressure, and convert it into mechanical energy.
Types
• Actuators can be categorized by their energy source, such as electric, hydraulic, or
pneumatic, and by their range of motion, such as linear or rotary.
 CONTINUES..
Characteristics
• Actuators should be accurate, precise, and reliable.
Selection criteria
• When choosing an actuator, you should consider things like:
• Force or torque: The actuator should be able to generate enough force or torque to move the load.
• Speed and response time: How quickly the actuator can move and react to control signals.
• Environmental conditions: How the actuator will perform and last in a given environment.
• Size and weight: Whether the actuator will fit in the available space and if its weight is a concern.
• Power source and control system compatibility: Whether the actuator can interface with the available power
source and control system.
• Cost and maintenance: How much the actuator will cost and how much maintenance it will require.
Interfacing concepts to Embedded
systems in iot
• Embedded system interfacing is the conceptual interface between electrical and computer
engineering—we require the skills of both fields to design good, practical interfaces.
• I/O is particularly important to embedded computing systems.
Embedded Devices (System) in (IoT)
• It is essential to know about the embedded devices while learning the IoT or building the projects
on IoT. The embedded devices are the objects that build the unique computing system. These
systems may or may not connect to the Internet.

• An embedded device system generally runs as a single application. However, these devices can
connect through the internet connection, and able communicate through other network devices.
Embedded System Hardware
Embedded System Software
• The embedded system that uses the devices for the operating system is based on the language
platform, mainly where the real-time operation would be performed.
• Manufacturers build embedded software in electronics, e.g., cars, telephones, modems,
appliances, etc.
• The embedded system software can be as simple as lighting controls running using an 8-bit
microcontroller.
• It can also be complicated software for missiles, process control systems, airplanes etc.
examples
• The IoT device or fleet of devices can be managed through a graphical user interface. Common
examples include a mobile application or website that can be used to register and control
smart devices.

• Some that you may be familiar with include smart thermostats and kitchen appliances,
fitness-tracking watches, self-driving cars, and home security systems.
examples of IoT and embedded systems
Central heating systems : An embedded system allows users to adjust the
temperature settings in a room.
Factory robots
• Factory robots use embedded systems to connect subsystems and perform
high-precision tasks in dangerous environments.
Fitness trackers
• Fitness trackers, like smart watches, use embedded systems to monitor heart
rate, sleep patterns, and physical activity.
Smart washing machines
• Smart washing machines can be controlled from a phone, and some models
can alert users if the clothes have a high soil level.
Wearable devices
• Wearable devices, like smartwatches and fitness trackers, use IoT embedded
systems to track fitness metrics, heart rate, and sleep patterns
Agriculture : IoT and related technologies can be used to automate farming
processes.
Traffic monitoring :Smart cities use connected traffic manageme
WSN and its technologies
• An IoT (Internet of Things) Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) refers to a group of spatially dispersed
and dedicated sensors for monitoring, and recording the physical conditions of the environment,
and collectively pass on such data through a wireless network to a internet-based location.
• Application: In IoT, WSNs interconnect various devices, allowing them to communicate and
exchange data, enhancing automation and efficiency.
• Example: In a smart home, sensors control lighting, heating, and security systems.
Wireless Sensor Network Solution
Service
• Sensing
It includes the deployment of sensors to collect data from the environment. Sensors can measure
several parameters depending on the application requirements, and the sensing service will ensure
that the data collected is accurate and concerning the intended purpose.
• Communication

The communication service facilitates the transmission of the data collected by the sensors to the
central processing unit or data sink. Wireless communication protocols such as Zigbee, Bluetooth,
Wi-Fi, or cellular networks are used to transmit information over short or long distances, depending
on the requirements of the application.
CONTINUES...
Data Processing
• Data processing implies the analysis and interpretation of the raw data collected by the sensors.
This service includes filtering, aggregation, compression, and encryption of the data to remove
iterations and improve accuracy. It can be performed either at the sensor nodes themselves (edge
computing) or on centralized servers.

Management & Control

• The data management and control service includes functionalities related to the configuration,
monitoring, and maintenance of wireless sensor networks. It includes tasks like network
configuration, node localization, energy management, fault detection, and network optimization.