sensors

Smart windows are undergoing a revolutionary transformation with the development of adaptive mechano-optical systems. These systems can adjust themselves to different wavelengths of light, from visible to microwave, and are becoming…

A general platform has been introduced to enable meta materials to count mechanical compression cycles and store the results in easily interpretable internal states, paving the way for advancements in intelligent sensing, soft robotics, and…

No, I’m not talking about the Beach Boys (yes, I’m an old); I’m talking about harvesting energy from vibrations in our surroundings. Researchers have developed an energy-generating device of piezoelectric composites and carbon…

Aerospace, energy, transportation, and defense require sensors to measure and monitor under extremely harsh conditions for both human safety and mechanical systems integrity. Sensors must work in high temperatures and be rugged enough to…

USB 3.0 Quad-Channel IEPE Vibration Sensor Measurement System: An Overview For electrical engineers, measuring vibration in machines and structures is important. Engineers use vibration sensors to measure the frequency and intensity of…

Electronic noses, or e-noses, are systems that combine chemical gas sensors, signal processing, and machine learning algorithms to mimic the sense of smell. E-noses can be used for checking food quality, monitoring air pollution, diagnosing…

Physicians monitor the brain's electrical signals via an EEG and specialized electrodes implanted into, or placed on, the surface of the head. Scientists can incorporate EEGs into “brain-machine interfaces,” that use brain waves to control…

Bees are fascinating. EPFL researchers just developed a temperature-modulating robotic system for seamless integration into honeybee hives for a never-before-seen view of honeybee behavior and a way to influence it. It's challenging to…

Integrating sensors into rotational mechanisms could enable engineers to build smart hinges that know when a door opens or gears inside a motor that lets a mechanic know their rotation speed. MIT engineers developed a way to integrate…

We've come a long way. Eight years ago, I updated an article series I originally contributed to Digi-Key in 2011. That update, The Five Senses of Sensors—Part I: Smell, Taste, and Hearing, discusses the technology that was available at the…