SENSOR

What is a Sensor?

A sensor is an electronic equipment that is used to detect and observe the physical activities
and pass the notifcation/signal to other electrical control devices.

20 Different Types of Sensors Used in Industry

1. Temperature Sensor

Temperature sensor uses to detect the temperature and heat energy and convert it into an
electrical signal (in form of voltage or current).

There are several types of temperature sensor used.

Thermometer
Thermocouple
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)
Thermistor Temperature Sensor
Semiconductor Temperature Sensor
Vibrating Wire Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor is used in a computer, refrigerator, automobile, medical device,
cooking appliances, electrical motor, etc.

2. Pressure Sensor

Pressure sensor is called Pressure Transducer or Pressure Transmitter or Piezometer.

A pressure sensor detects the pressure of air, gas, water and provides electrical signal to the
controller.

According to different uses and many more features, it is divided into different parts like,

Vacuum Pressure Sensor

Absolute Pressure Sensor
Gauge Pressure Sensor
Differential Pressure Sensor
Pressure sensors are used in many systems like pneumatic, hydraulic, vacuum systems,
etc.

3. Touch Sensor
The touch sensor is called a Tactile sensor. It is an electronic sensor that is used for
detecting and recording physical touch.

Capacitive touch sensor, resistive touch sensor are the best example of touch sensor.

It is used in industrial applications like switches for turn on/off light, remote control by the air
conditioner (AC), door open/close operation, elevator, and robotics, smartphones, so on.

An oximeter is one of the best example of a touch-based sensor to detect oxygen levels in
the human body.

In this COVID pandemic, Pulse Oximeter is in huge demand. It is easy to handle and
operate, even at your home. You can easily buy an online Pulse Oximeter.

4. Image Sensor

The image sensor is an electronic device that is used to detect the image pixels and provide
information to the display devices.

There are analog and digital types of sensor. Generally, an electronic image sensor is
classified into two main types.

Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)

Active Pixel Sensor
For the digital camera, closed-circuit television (CCTV), medical imaging equipment, thermal
imaging devices, radar, sonar, etc., image sensors are used.

5. Motion Sensor

Motion sensor measures and records physical activities or movements. It is classified into
different types.

Active Motion Sensor

Passive Motion Sensor
Tomographic Motion Sensor
Gesture Motion Sensor
The motion sensor is used in home security, automatic doors operation, microwaves,
robotics, ultrasonic waves, gesture detector, etc.

6. Light Sensor

Light sensor is a photoelectric device. This sensor detects and converts the brightness or
luminescence of light or photon into an electrical signal.

There are three types of light sensor.

Photoresistor or Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Photodiode
Phototransistor
It is widely used in the solar system, automobile, agriculture sector (automatic sprinkler
system), and electronic-based project device like Arduino.

7. Vibration Sensor

Sometimes, vibration sensor is known as Piezoelectric Sensor.

The vibration sensor detects and records any movement or activities. And it provides data or
signals to connected machines or systems.

This sensor helps to send acknowledgement if there is any hazardous activity.

In an industrial area such as gas and oil, food and beverage, mining, metalworking, paper,
wind power, power generation, the vibration sensords are needed.

8. Humidity Sensor

Humidity sensor is also known as a Hygrometer.

For detecting moisture in air and soil, the humidity sensor is very essential. Mostly, it is used
in Air Conditioner (AC) system.

WS1 Pro is an example of the wireless humidity sensor.

9. Proximity Sensor

Proximity sensor can easily detect nearby objects without any physical touch. It is divided
into different types like-

Capacitive Proximity Sensor

Inductive Proximity Sensor
It is widely used in smartphones, tablet computers, machines, robotic systems, roller
coasters, etc.

10. Colour Sensor

Colour sensor is the type of photoelectric sensor.

It helps to sense the color of an object and recognize the color mark. This sensor uses RGB
(red, green, and blue) color scale.

SEN-11195 is the best example of the color sensor.

For colour painting and printing, cosmetic material, textile area, medical diagnosis, computer
color monitor, and the process control, colour sensor is used.

11. Radiation Sensor

A radiation sensor is an electronics instrument that senses and measures the radiation
particles like alpha, beta, gamma, neutrons, X-ray.

Also, it senses electromagnetic radiation like waves, cosmic radiation (sunlight).

Radiation sensor includes three different type.

Gas-filled Radiation Sensor

Scintillation Radiation Sensor
Solid-state Radiation Sensor
This sensor is used for nuclear energy, medical imaging modalities, and monitoring of
environmental radioactivity.

12. Level Sensor

The main role of the level sensor is to measure the level or height of different materials like
solid, liquid, and gaseous.

It is classified into different parts.

Laser Level Sensor

Float Sensor
Capacitive Level Sensor
Resistive Level Sensor
Ultrasonic Level Sensor
Hydrostatic Level Sensor
Optical Level Sensor
Electromagnetic Level Sensor
It is widely used in vessel, container, water tank, fuel tank bin, etc for water level check.

13. Position Sensor

Position sensor determines the displacement and the position (like linear and rotational).

Basically, position sensor available in the different types.

Optical Position Sensor

Linear Position Sensor
Rotary Position Sensor
Inductive Position Sensor
Capacitive Position Sensor
Fiber-Optic Position Sensor
Ultrasonic Position Sensor
For example, a potentiometer contains the rotational position sensor that can vary with
angular movement.

The position sensor is used in domestic and industrial applications like door closing/opening,
valve monitoring, motor controlling, throttles for controlling the flow of fuel or power to an
engine.

14. Gas or Smoke Sensor

Gas sensor is used to detect different types of gasses, toxic or explosive gasses, smoke in
the air. Some of these sensors are also capable to measure gas concentration.

Gas or smoke sensor is divided into three parts.

Optical Type Smoke Sensor

Ionization Type Smoke Sensor
Laser Type Smoke Sensor
Smoke sensor is used in plant, industries, buildings, ships, airplanes, etc.

15. Flame Sensor

The flame sensor easily detects fire or flame of nearby materials. These detected signals are
passed to the connected control devices.

It is used in industrial areas for an alarm system, natural gas plant, fire suppression system
and Arduino based design fire detector project.

16. Leak Sensor

Leak sensor is used in a closed vessel or vaccum for detecting water leakage, fluid leakage,
air leakage, etc.

As per the working role, it is divided into two main parts.

Spot Leak Sensor

Flow Leak Sensor

17. Accelerometer

Accelerometer is an instrument that measure motion acceleration or velocity.

It is used in many applications such as hand gesture controlled robot, navigation system for
aircraft and missiles, process and control system, vehicle acceleration, and other rotating
electronic equipment like a turbine, roller, fan, compressor, pump.

18. Tilt Sensor

Tilt sensor detects and varies with an angular movement, angular slope, angular motion,
axes of the reference plane.

It is mostly used for monitoring the angle and auto-rotating operation in mobile, tablet,
hand-held games, boats, vehicles, and aircraft, etc.

19. Mark Sensor

Mark sensor works as photoelectric type of sensor. It is used to sense colour mark on
presence of an objects.

Mark sensor is widely used in printing and packaging industries.

20. Flow Sensor or Float Sensor

Flow sensor measures and detects virtually any process fluid. This detected data will be
provided to the controller system.

It is used in industrial area, power generating instruments, power plant, etc.

In this tutorial, I have covered 20 different types of sensors with their uses. Every sensor has
its own features and functionalities. They can be used for a specific purpose.

For the handheld or wireless-based electrical and electronics project, various types of
sensors are used.

Also, sensors are used in PLC projects, robotics system, Arduino circuit boards, raspberry,
IoT, etc.

ACTUATOR

What is an Actuator?

An actuator is a machine part that receives feedback from a control signal and then begins
movement. The actuator makes distinct motions depending on the machine’s purpose once
it receives electricity.
What are the Different Types of Actuators?

Linear Actuators

Linear actuators, as their name suggests, are devices that move in a straight line. They are
typically found in hydraulic and pneumatic equipment and can be mechanical or electrical. A
linear actuator is found in almost every machine, piece of equipment, or device that requires
straight motion.

Rotary Actuators

Rotary actuators, in contrast to linear types of actuators, produce a round motion. Most
machines, as the term “rotary” implies, use rotating elements to accomplish a turning
movement. If a machine needs to move forward, backward, up, or down, they are frequently
utilized in connection with a linear actuator.

Many rotary actuators are powered by electricity, but others are powered by hydraulic or
pneumatic systems. Windshield wipers, electric fans, and manufacturing machinery that
carry things from one location to another all use rotary actuators.

Source of Energy

We may further distinguish between different types of actuators by sorting them according to
the power source or system they utilize to move. Based on the energy source, the following
are the most prevalent actuators:

Hydraulic Actuators

Hydraulic actuators use a fluid-filled cylinder with a piston positioned in the middle to
function. Hydraulic actuators typically create linear movements, with a spring linked to one
end for return motion. These actuators can be found in a variety of exercise equipment,
including steppers and car transport carriers.

Pneumatic Actuators

Pneumatic actuators are one of the most dependable machine motion alternatives. To create
mechanical movement, they use compressed gases. Many businesses prefer pneumatic
actuators because they can perform extremely accurate actions, particularly when starting
and stopping machines.

Pneumatic actuators are used in the following equipment:

Exercise machines
Bus brakes
Pressure sensors
Vane motors
Pneumatic mailing systems
Electric Actuators
Electrical actuators, as you might expect, rely on electricity to function. Electric cars,
manufacturing gear, and robotics equipment are all well-known examples. They
produce accurate motion in the same way that pneumatic actuators do because the
flow of electrical power is constant.

Electromechanical actuators:

These actuators transform electrical signals into rotational or linear motions or a mix of the
two.

Electrohydraulic actuators:

These actuators are also electrically powered, but they move a hydraulic accumulator. The
accumulator, which is commonly used in heavy industrial equipment, then provides the force
for movement.

Mechanical Actuators

Pulleys and rack and pinion systems are examples of mechanical actuators. Another
mechanical force, such as pulling or pushing, is applied, and the actuator uses that single
movement to achieve the desired consequences. For example, moving an object from point
A to point B can be accomplished by spinning a single gear on a set of racks and pinions.
The tugging motion on the pulley can cause the other side to rise or move towards the
desired place.

Supercoiled Polymer Actuators

Actuators made of supercoiled polymer are a relatively new addition to the various types of
actuators. They’re utilized in robotics and prosthetic limbs because they can imitate human
muscle movements with a coil that contracts and expands as it’s heated or cooled.

How to Select the Right Actuator

Understanding the various types of actuators is essential for selecting the optimal choice for
your machinery. We’ll go through elements that will help you make the best option because
each variety has its own purpose and energy requirements. Visit here to see the ability of
various types of actuators.