Robotic sensors | sensors used in robotics

This page covers Robotic sensors with their functions. It also provides links to sensors used in robotics for further study.

Introduction:
Modern technologies have created sensors which functions similar to organs of human beings. These sensors play significant role in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). As we know robotics involves building robots.

Robots are mainly programmable machines which interact with physical world via sensors and actuators. They are designed to work autonomously or semi-autonomously. Industrial robots are programmed to perform repetitive task which does not require AI. Robots which perform very complex task require AI algorithms. Some of these algorithms are used in virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri.

List of Robotic sensors

A typical robot has movable physical structure driven by motors, sensors, power supply and computer. Robots are designed for various applications based on which they use different types of sensors. Following are the commonly found sensors in robots. They are also known as robotic sensors. Sensors provide the ability to see, hear, touch and move like humans. They provide environmental feedback ragading surroundings and terrain.

➤Distance, object detection, vision and proximity sensors are needed for self driving vehicles.
➤RFID sensors provide identification codes and other informations.
➤Force sensors provide ability to pick up the objects.
➤Torque sensors can measure and control rotational forces.
➤Microphones are acoustical sensors which help the robots receive voice commands and detect the sound from environment.

Proximity Sensor

proximity sensor

The Proximity sensor used for non-contact detection of an object.
Refer proximity sensor basics >> and proximity sensor Vendors >> for more information.

Light Sensor

Light Sensor

The Light sensor is used to detect presence, color and intensity of the light.
Refer light sensor basics and types >> for more information.

Ultrasonic Sensor

Ultrasonic Sensor

• The ultrasonic sensor is a transducer which converts electrical energy into sound waves and viceversa.
• These sound waves fall above the normal range of human hearing and hence it is known as ultrasonic waves.
• There are two main parts in the sensor viz. transmitter and receiver.
• The transmitter part converts electrical energy into sound and transmits it.
• The receiver part receives the echo and turn this received sound waves into electrical energy.
• This returned echo is measured and used for distance calculation by the ultrasonic sensor.
Refer Ultrasonic sensor >> for more information.

Infrared Sensor

Infrared sensor

The Infrared sensors are devices which emit and detect the Infrared waves as required in order to detect the distant object. The wavelength of infrared waves fall between 700 nm to 1 mm. This corresponds to 430 THz to 300 GHz respectively in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Refer Infrared sensor >> and active and passive IR sensors >> for more information.

Touch Sensor

The touch sensor senses object's presence or absence.
Refer touch sensor >> basics for more information.

Force Sensor

The force sensor measures the force along a single axis.
Refer force sensor basics >> and advantages, disadvantages of force sensor>>.

Vision Sensor

The vision sensor is used to detect edges, holes and corners.
Refer NFC basics for more.

Temperature Sensor

The Temperature sensor is used to sense temperature. Temperature sensors are used to determine temperature and avoid any harmful heat sources from the surroundings.
Refer temperature sensor >> for more information.

Sound Sensor

The Sound sensor is used to detect presence, frequency and intensity of the sound.
Refer sound sensor basics >> for more information.

Other sensors

The Physical orientation sensor is used to determine co-ordinates of objects in the space.

The Chemicals sensors are used to detect presence of chemicals or reactants. They are also used to identify concentation of chemicals.

Sensors and Transducers Related Links

Proximity Sensor
Occupancy Sensor vs Motion Sensor
LVDT and RVDT sensor
Position, displacement and level sensor
force sensor and strain sensor
temperature sensor
pressure sensor

Also refer IoT compliant sensors which includes ambient light sensor, optical sensor, gesture sensor, proximity sensor, touch sensor, fingerprint sensor etc.
Refer Sensors and transducers article which covers types, basic functions and provide links to sensors and transducers. It include temperature sensor, humidity sensor, strain sensor, proximity or occupancy sensor, force or load sensor, voltage and current sensor, pressure sensor, speed sensor, resistance sensor, power sensor, level sensor, event or state sensor etc.

RF and Wireless Terminologies