The Future Development Directions of IoT Sensor Technology

The role of IoT sensor technology in economic development and social progress is significant. It is believed that in the near future, sensor technology will leap to a new height, further promoting rapid economic development and improving our quality of life.

With breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as science and technology, nanotechnology, and microelectronics, we must rely on sensory organs to obtain information from the outside world, and relying solely on human sensory organs is far from sufficient. In studying natural phenomena and laws, as well as producing sensors and the IoT, their functions are far from enough. To adapt to this situation, IoT sensors are needed, which are an extension of human sensory organs, also known as electronic sensory organs. With the arrival of the new technological revolution, the world has begun to enter the information age. In the process of utilizing information, the first issue to be resolved is to obtain accurate and reliable information, and sensors are the primary means of obtaining information in both natural and production fields.

The following four areas may become the focus of future sensor technology development.

1. Wearable Applications

According to a forecast by ABI Research in the United States, the number of wearable sensors will reach 160 million by 2017. Wearable devices represented by Google Glass are the most noteworthy hardware innovations. Google Glass is equipped with more than ten sensors, including gyroscope sensors, accelerometers, magnetic sensors, and linear acceleration sensors, achieving functions that traditional terminals cannot accomplish, such as allowing users to take photos simply by blinking. Currently, the application fields of wearable devices are expanding from external devices like watches, glasses, and shoes to broader areas, such as electronic skin. Recently, the University of Tokyo has developed a flexible wearable sensor that can be attached to the skin. This sensor is film-like, weighing only 3g/m2 per unit area, about 1/27 of ordinary paper, and has a thickness of only 2 microns.

2. Autonomous Vehicles

The sensor technology applications promoting the development of autonomous driving are accelerating breakthroughs, as noted by IHS in the United States. In this field, Google’s self-driving vehicle project has achieved significant results. By installing cameras, radar sensors, and laser range finders inside the vehicle, it generates real-time road condition information around the car at intervals of 20 times per second, and uses artificial intelligence software for analysis to predict future traffic trends, while integrating Google Maps for navigation. Google’s self-driving cars have already obtained road usage rights in Nevada, Florida, and California. Global automotive giants such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Ford have all begun research and development of autonomous driving technology, with some models nearing mass production.

3. Medical and Health Monitoring

Numerous medical research institutions at home and abroad, including internationally renowned medical industry giants, have made significant progress in the application of sensor technology in the medical field. For example, Rohm is currently developing an image sensor that uses near-infrared light (NIR), which works by illuminating with a near-infrared LED and using a dedicated imaging component to capture reflected light, obtaining images by changing the wavelength of near-infrared light, and processing the images to make blood vessels more distinct. Some research institutions have made progress in developing sensors made from materials that can be embedded or swallowed in the body. For instance, the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States is developing an embedded sensor with pressure sensors and wireless communication circuits, constructed from conductive metals and insulating films, capable of detecting pressure changes based on the frequency variation of the resonant circuit it forms, and dissolving in body fluids after performing its function.

4. Industrial Control Applications

In 2012, GE proposed in its report “The Industrial Internet: Breaking the Boundaries Between Intelligence and Machines” that by connecting humans and machines through intelligent sensors, and combining software and big data analysis, it can break the limits of physics and materials science, thus changing the way the world operates. The report also pointed out that by deploying the industrial internet, various industries in the United States could achieve a 1% efficiency improvement, saving 1% of fuel (about $66 billion) in the energy sector within 15 years. In January 2013, GE installed more than 10,000 sensors in a battery manufacturing facility in New York to monitor data such as temperature, energy consumption, and air pressure during production, allowing factory managers to supervise production through iPads. An ultrasonic weather station combined seven sensors to provide top-notch weather monitoring information for industrial production, offering reliable information to prevent some disaster events, thereby improving efficiency and reducing overall costs.

IoT sensors have already penetrated various fields such as smart homes, transportation, environmental protection, logistics, and food safety. The significant role of IoT sensor technology in economic development and social progress is evident. Currently, it is a highly valued development field in various countries. It is believed that in the near future, sensor technology will leap to a new height, further promoting rapid economic development and enhancing our quality of life.