I. Introduction to Intelligent Sensors
Intelligent sensors are sensors with information processing capabilities. Equipped with a microprocessor, they possess the ability to acquire, process, and exchange information, representing a product of sensor integration combined with microprocessor functionality. Compared to conventional sensors, intelligent sensors offer three main advantages: high-precision information acquisition can be achieved through software technology at a low cost; they possess a degree of programmable automation capability; and they offer diverse functionalities. A good 'intelligent sensor' is a microprocessor-driven sensor and instrument suite that incorporates communication and onboard diagnostics functions.
II. Applications and Future Directions of Intelligent Sensors
Intelligent sensors have been widely used in various fields such as aerospace, aviation, defense, science and technology, and industrial and agricultural production. For example, they have broad application prospects in the field of robotics, enabling robots to have human-like sensory organs and brain functions, perceive various phenomena, and perform various actions.
In industrial production, traditional sensors cannot quickly and directly measure and control certain product quality indicators online. However, intelligent sensors can directly measure certain quantities in the production process that have a functional relationship with product quality indicators. By using mathematical models established using neural networks or expert system technology, the quality of the product can be inferred.
In the medical field, diabetic patients need to monitor their blood sugar levels constantly to adjust their diet and insulin injections, and prevent other complications. Traditionally, blood sugar testing requires pricking a finger to collect blood, placing the sample on a glucose test strip, and then using an electronic blood glucose meter. This is a cumbersome and painful method. However, the "glucose watch," which looks like a regular watch, allows for painless, bloodless, and continuous blood sugar testing. The "glucose watch" has a pad coated with reagents. When the pad comes into contact with the skin, glucose molecules are adsorbed onto the pad and react electrochemically with the reagents, generating an electric current. A sensor measures this current, and a processor calculates the corresponding blood glucose concentration, which is then displayed digitally.
III. Shortcomings in the Development of my country's Intelligent Sensor Industry
1. Key technologies have not yet been mastered.
Sensor design technology encompasses knowledge from multiple disciplines, theories, materials, and processes, making breakthroughs extremely difficult. Currently, due to a shortage of talent, high R&D costs, and fierce competition among enterprises, my country has not yet made breakthroughs in some common key technologies for sensors.
2. Insufficient industrialization capacity
Due to the lagging technological strength of Chinese enterprises and the lack of industry development standards, domestic sensor products are often mismatched and lack series, resulting in frequent instances of duplicate production and vicious competition. This leads to poor product reliability, a serious bias towards low-end products, and a disproportionate level of industrialization compared to the variety and series of products, leaving China with a long-term reliance on imports.
3. Resources are not concentrated
Currently, there are more than 1,600 sensor companies in my country, but most of them are small and micro enterprises with weak profitability and a lack of leading enterprises with technological guidance. As a result, capital, technology, enterprise layout, industrial structure and market are all scattered, resources cannot be effectively concentrated, and the industry's development has been slow to mature.
4. Shortage of high-end talent
Because the sensor industry is still in its early stages of development, with relatively weak funding, technology, and industrial foundations, coupled with the involvement of multiple disciplines, the broad knowledge required, and the constant emergence of new technologies, it is difficult to attract high-end talent. Furthermore, the imperfect and unreasonable talent training mechanism in my country also contributes to the industry's talent shortage.
