With breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as materials science, nanotechnology, and microelectronics, as well as the needs of economic and social development, these four areas are likely to become the focus of future sensor technology development.
I. Wearable Applications
According to predictions by ABI Research, the number of wearable sensors will reach 160 million in 2017. Wearable devices, represented by Google Glass, are among the most watched hardware innovations. Google Glass incorporates more than 10 types of sensors, including gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, and linear accelerometers, enabling functions that are impossible with traditional devices, such as taking a photo simply by blinking.
II. Driverless
In this field, Google's self-driving car project has achieved significant results. Using cameras, radar sensors, and laser rangefinders installed inside the vehicle, it generates real-time traffic information about the surrounding area at intervals of 20 times per second. This information is then analyzed using artificial intelligence software to predict future traffic conditions, and combined with Google Maps for road navigation. Global automotive giants such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Ford have all begun developing self-driving technology, with some models nearing mass production.
III. Medical care and health monitoring
Numerous medical research institutions both domestically and internationally, including internationally renowned medical industry giants, have made significant progress in applying sensor technology to the medical field.
For example, the Auson Electronics AFM3000 series gas flow sensor is designed specifically for ventilators and can accurately measure the flow rate of air, oxygen, and other non-corrosive gases. This sensor employs a unique airflow design to ensure extremely low pressure loss of the fluid within the sensor, making it suitable for a variety of demanding applications.
The AFM3000 series flow sensors have many advantages, such as small size, light weight, intuitive and clear readings, high reliability, and low pressure loss, and are widely used in medical devices, environmental monitoring, laboratories and other fields.
IV. Industrial Control
In its 2012 report , "The Industrial Internet: Breaking the Boundaries of Intelligence and Machines," GE proposed that connecting humans and machines through smart sensors, combined with software and big data analytics, could overcome the limitations of physics and materials science and transform the way the world operates. The report also indicated that by deploying the Industrial Internet, various industries in the United States could achieve a 1% efficiency improvement, and the energy sector would save 1% on fuel (approximately $ 66 billion) within 15 years . In January 2013 , GE installed over 10,000 sensors at a battery manufacturing plant in New York to monitor data such as temperature, energy consumption, and air pressure during production. Factory managers could access this data via iPads to monitor production.
