Basic of IoT

Sensors

Prepared By :
Turjo Das Dip
 Basic Theory of IoT

IoT is a technology that interlinks devices through a network; thus, they can send data,
receive data, and process data according to its instructions. The use of IoT in our everyday
life is increasing day by day.

Architecture of IoT

There are four layers of IoT. They are:

1. Sensing Layer:
a. This is the first layer of IoT.
b. Responsible for collecting data from different sources.
c. For gathering information sensors and actuators are use here.
2. Network Layer:
a. Second layer of IoT
b. Provide communication and connectivity between devices in the IoT system.
c. Use protocols and technologies that enable devices to connect and communicate
with each other through internet.
3. Data processing Layer:
a. Third layer of IoT
b. Receive raw data from devices, process it and make it available for collecting,
analysing and processing it and available for further action.
4. Application Layer:
a. Topmost layer of IoT
b. This layer is directly controlled by user interaction.
c. Goal is to provide user friendly interfaces and functionalities
d. This layer includes analytics and processing capabilities that allow data to be
analysed as well as transformed into meaningful insights.

Advantages

▪ Can perform multiple task

▪ Connected through network
▪ Best for server-based application
▪ File sharing possible through FTP
▪ More reliable for mobile based application
Disadvantages

▪ Complex and high maintenance fee required

▪ Complex system may affect battery life of device
▪ Totally dependent on server
▪ Privacy issue and data breaches possible
▪ Easily can be hacked like Man in the middle attack (MITM), ARP spoofing, IP
spoofing
 Internet of Things Applications

Top 10 Popular IoT Applications

Conclusion

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables physical devices to connect and interact through
embedded electronics, supporting seamless data collection, analysis, and application. Its
layered architecture—comprising Sensing, Network, Data Processing, and Application
layers—enhances automation, efficiency, and multitasking. However, IoT also brings
challenges, including security risks, privacy concerns, and significant initial costs.
 Sensor

A sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical
environment. There are two types of sensors. They are:

a. Active Sensor: An active sensor is a sensing device that requires an external source of
power to operate; active sensors contrast with passive sensors, which simply detect and
respond to some type of input from the physical environment.
b. Passive Sensor: A passive sensor is a microwave instrument designed to receive and
to measure natural emissions produced by constituents of the Earth’s surface and its
atmosphere.

Accelerometer Sensors

An accelerometer is a device that measures the vibration, or acceleration of motion, of a

structure.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Consumer electronics, Measure acceleration using
Capacitive MEMS automotive, industrial, capacitive sensing techniques
Accelerometer healthcare

Used for proximity sensing,

Hall Effect Accelerometer Automotive, industrial positioning, speed detection,
machinery, robotics and current sensing applications

Magneto-Resistive Aerospace, military, navigation Path and angle measurement

Accelerometer systems
Used to detect seismic activities
Fiber Optic Bragg Network Structural health monitoring, due to their very high sensitivity
Accelerometer geophysics, aerospace combined with low noise.

Aerospace, automotive, Used for vibration and shock

Piezoelectric Accelerometer machinery monitoring, medical testing
devices
Automotive crash testing, Used for shock testing, crash
Piezoresistive Accelerometer industrial, medical applications testing

Motion Sensors

A motion sensor is an electronic device that uses a sensor to detect nearby people or objects.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Used in warehouses, storage
Tomographic Sensor Medical imaging, industrial units and in other situations
process monitoring, security that need a commercial level
of security.
 Automotive, industrial Used for motion detection,
Microwave Sensor automation, radar systems, level measurement, and
telecommunications distance sensing
Automotive, healthcare, Used for applications like
Ultrasonic Sensor industrial automation, distance measurement,
robotics, proximity sensing object detection, and level
sensing in industries

Gyroscope Sensors

A gyroscope is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Used in north-finding and
Mechanical Gyroscopes Aerospace, navigation navigation applications
systems, maritime, robotics where extreme precision is
needed
Aviation, aerospace, military Used in military and
Ring-Laser Gyros (RLGs) navigation, space commercial aircraft, ships,
exploration and spacecraft.
Used in high-shock and high-
Fiber-Optic Gyros (FOGs) Autonomous vehicles, performance applications for
aerospace, robotics, guided missiles, underwater
maritime, defense vehicles, and surveying
equipment.

Position Sensors
A position sensor is a device that can detect the movement of an object and converts these into
signals suitable for processing, transmission, or control.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Used in a wide variety of
applications including
Semiconductor semiconductor processing,
Capacitive Displacement manufacturing, precision assembly of precision
Sensor machining, robotics, equipment such as disk
automotive drives, precision thickness
measurements, machine tool
metrology and assembly line
testing
Measure shaft displacement
in rotating machinery and
Industrial automation, metal have been around for many
Eddy-Current Sensor detection, vibration years as they offer
monitoring, automotive manufacturers high-linearity,
high-speed measurements,
and high resolution.
 Used for proximity sensing,
Automotive, consumer positioning, speed detection,
Hall Effect Sensor electronics, industrial and current sensing
machinery, robotics applications and are
common in industrial and
consumer applications.
Industrial automation, Used to detect metallic
Inductive Sensor manufacturing, metal objects that interact with a
detection, proximity sensing magnetic field

Proximity Sensors

A proximity sensor is a device that can detect the presence of an object without making physical
contact with it.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Machine- tolls, assembly
Industrial automation, line, automative industry,
Inductive Proximity Sensor manufacturing, robotics, Detection of metal parts in
automotive harsh environments, High-
speed moving parts
Object detection on
Consumer electronics, conveyor, Carton counting,
Optical Proximity Sensor automotive, security, Product sorting, Contrast
industrial detection

Final inspection on
Industrial automation, packaging lines,
Capacitive Proximity Sensor robotics, packaging, Measurements of the filling
consumer electronics level of the liquids through
the walls of plastic or glass
tanks
Passage of objects on
Automotive, healthcare, conveyor: glass bottles,
industrial, robotics, fluid cardboard Packaging, Filling
Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor level monitoring level of liquids in a bottle or
of granulatesin a plastic
injection machine, Depth of
cavity

Contact Sensors

A contact sensor is a simple device made up of two components: a magnetic piece and a sensor
body.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Industrial automation, Measure the voltage
Thermocouples aerospace, automotive, generated by two dissimilar
HVAC metals when joined together.
 Consumer electronics, Measure the resistance of a
Thermistors medical devices, HVAC, semiconductor material
automotive when exposed to different
temperatures
Industrial processing, Measure temperature by
Resistance Temperature HVAC, medical, automotive measuring the resistance of a
Detectors (RTDs) wire when exposed to
different temperatures.

Non-Contact Sensors

A non-contact sensor uses technology which doesn't come into physical contact. The
technology within a contacting position sensor will consist of a track and a slider.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Measure the temperature of
Healthcare, industrial an object by detecting and
Infrared thermometers maintenance, automotive, measuring the heat energy,
HVAC also known as infrared,
emitted from the object.
Measure the temperature of
Manufacturing, metallurgy, an object by detecting and
Pyrometers automotive, aerospace, measuring the infrared
energy radiation emitted from the
object.
Measure the temperature of
Building inspection, an object by detecting and
Thermographic cameras healthcare, industrial analysing the infrared
maintenance, military radiation given off by the
object.

Humidity Sensors

A humidity sensor is an electronic device that measures the humidity in its environment and
converts its findings into a corresponding electrical signal.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

HVAC systems
Printers and fax machines
Capacitive Humidity HVAC, automotive, Weather stations
Sensors industrial, consumer Automobiles
electronics, agriculture Food processing
Refrigerators, ovens and
dryers
Resistive Humidity Sensors HVAC, industrial, Used in several industrial,
(Electrical Conductivity agricultural, environmental domestic or residential and
Sensors) monitoring commercial applications.
 Environmental monitoring, Drying kilns
industrial, automotive, Pharmaceutical plants
Thermal Conductivity research Owens
Humidity Sensors Clothes dryers and drying
machines
Food dehydration

Gas Sensor

Gas sensors are electronic devices that detect and identify different types of gasses.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Electrochemical Gas Environmental monitoring, Used for detecting oxygen
Sensors industrial safety, automotive, and toxic gases in an external
medical circuit
Industrial safety, hazardous Used to measure the
Catalytic Bead Sensors area monitoring, concentration of gases like
petrochemical methane, propane
Environmental monitoring, Used to detect hydrocarbons,
Infrared Gas Sensors industrial applications, water vapors, carbon
automotive dioxide, or other infrared
active gases
Holographic Gas Sensors Environmental monitoring, Used to detect different types
research, safety systems of gases differently.

Pressure Sensors
A pressure sensor is a device that senses and measures pressure.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Used for measuring air
pressure in applications such
Aneroid Barometer Pressure Meteorology, altimetry, as weather monitoring,
Sensors weather stations, aviation altimeter systems, and
environmental control
systems
Manometer Pressure Sensors Industrial, HVAC, Used to calibrate equipment
laboratory, automotive in laboratory applications.
Bourdon Tube Pressure Industrial, automotive, Used as gauge pressure
Sensors HVAC, process control sensors and differential
sensors
Vacuum systems, industrial Measure the resistance of a
Vacuum Pressure Sensors equipment, automotive heated sensor filament inside
the gauge chamber
Piezoelectric Pressure Automotive, industrial, Used for measuring dynamic
Sensors medical devices, aerospace pressure, for example in
engine combustion
applications.
 Automotive, industrial, Used for long-term
Strain Gauge Pressure structural monitoring, monitoring tasks such as
Sensors medical measuring residual stress,
torque, compression, tension

Radiation Sensors

Radiation sensor is an instrument used to detect or identify high-energy particles, such as those
produced by nuclear decay, cosmic radiation, or reactions in a particle accelerator.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Geiger-Müller (GM) Nuclear industry, medical, Used for Detecting
Counter environmental monitoring, ionizing radiation
research
Scintillation Detectors Nuclear industry, medical Used for detecting Gamma
diagnostics, environmental and X-Rays
monitoring, research

Particle Sensors
Particle sensors are small air monitors that measure airborne particles such as smoke and dust.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Air quality monitoring, Air Quality Monitoring,
Optical Particle Sensor HVAC systems, Automotive Cabin Air Filters
environmental research,
industrial applications
Environmental monitoring, Cleanroom monitoring, air
Laser Particle Sensor clean rooms, automotive, control quality in
HVAC laboratories
Industrial air filtration, Used for filtration system,
Electrostatic Precipitation pollution control, industrial exhaust
Particle Sensor environmental monitoring monitoring and vehicle
emissions.

Flame Sensors

A flame-sensor is one kind of detector which is mainly designed for detecting as well as
responding to the occurrence of a fire or flame.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Industrial, fire detection, Detects light and generates
Optical Flame Sensors safety systems, aerospace an electrical signal,
indicating the presence of a
flame.
Industrial, power plants, fire Look for specific patterns
Infrared Flame Sensors safety, automotive that hot gases release in the
infrared spectral range.
 Industrial, oil and gas, Popular for industrial gas
Ultraviolet Flame Sensors aviation, safety systems burners because they are
insensitive to infrared or
visible light.

IR Sensors

An infrared (IR) sensor is an electronic device that measures and detects infrared radiation in
its surrounding environment.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Security systems, motion Used in motion detection for
Passive IR Sensor detection, HVAC, security systems
automotive
Industrial, building Used in temperature
Thermal IR Sensor inspection, environmental measurement, night vision,
monitoring, healthcare and thermal imaging
cameras.
Military, aerospace, medical, Used in high-precision
Quantum IR Sensor scientific research applications, such as
spectroscopy, gas sensing,
and scientific research.
Industrial automation, Used in Obstacle Detection
Active IR Sensor security systems, automotive system and proximity
sensing

Flaw Sensors

A flaw sensor is a specialized device used in the field of non-destructive testing to identify
defects or discontinuities in materials without causing any damage to the material being tested.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Measuring flow rates in
liquids and gases across a
Differential Pressure Flow Industrial process control, wide range of industrial
Sensors HVAC, water treatment, applications, including water
chemical engineering treatment, HVAC, chemical
processing, and oil and gas
industries.
Detecting low flow rates in
gases and liquids, making
Thermal Flow Sensors HVAC, environmental them ideal for leak detection,
monitoring, automotive, compressed air monitoring,
medical devices and low-flow measurement
in industrial, laboratory, and
environmental applications.
 Measuring flow in
Oil and gas, water treatment, applications with moderate
Target Type Flow Sensors HVAC, industrial processes fluid density and those
containing some solid
particles.
Measuring low to medium
flow rates in liquids and
Turbine Flow Sensor Industrial, oil and gas, gases, often used in water
chemical, water treatment distribution, irrigation,
beverage production, and
fuel flow applications.
Measuring flow in
conductive liquids, making
Magnetic Induction Flow Water treatment, chemical, them ideal for water
Sensor food and beverage, HVAC treatment, chemical
processing, and applications
where the fluid may have
contaminants.

Vision and Imaging Sensors

Vision and Imaging sensors use images captured by a camera to determine presence,
orientation, and accuracy of parts.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Engineering design, Suited for close-range
Orthographic Projection- architecture, computer infrared sensors, or laser
Type graphics range finders

Architecture, video games, Suited for camera-type

Perspective Projection-Type simulations, 3D modelling sensors
Industrial processing, Measures temperature by
Resistance Temperature HVAC, laboratory, medical detecting changes in
Detector (RTD) devices resistance

Consumer electronics,
Semiconductor-Based automotive, industrial,
Temperature Sensors medical
Measure temperature
Negative Temperature Consumer electronics, changes by using two similar
Coefficient (NTC) HVAC, automotive, diodes in an integrated circuit
Thermistor temperature compensation (IC)
 Force Sensors

Force sensors are devices that convert mechanical forces such as weight, tension, compression,
torque, strain, stress, or pressure into electrical signals.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Measuring force or pressure
Inductive Force Sensor Industrial automation, robotics, applied to metallic objects,
automotive, manufacturing often in industrial automation
or robotic applications.
Detecting fine particles or
High-frequency Oscillation Industrial, aerospace, very light objects, often used
automotive, material in medical, food, and
pharmaceutical industries.
Automotive, industrial Measuring magnetic field
Magnetic Inductive Sensor automation, robotics strength or detecting the
presence of magnetic objects
Industrial, automotive, Measuring dynamic forces,
Piezoelectric Force Sensor medical devices, material such as vibrations, impact, or
testing pressure changes
Detecting changes in
Flexiforce Force Sensor Robotics, medical devices, pressure, load, and force,
industrial automation, especially in compact or
packaging flexible applications.
Detecting applied force
Touch screens, robotics, through changes in
Capacitive Force Sensor automotive, medical devices capacitance, suitable for
precision measurement
applications
Detecting changes in
Consumer electronics, distance, pressure, or force
Analog Capacitive Sensor automotive, industrial through analog signals, with
applications applications in industrial
control, robotics, and
laboratory instrumentation.

Level Sensors

A level sensor is a device that is designed to monitor, maintain, and measure liquid (and
sometimes solid) levels.

Generic Names Sectors Functionalities

Capacitance Level Sensor Chemical, oil and gas, food

and beverage, water Used in liquid storage tanks
treatment
 Automotive, HVAC, Used as low-level indicators
chemical, water treatment, to prevent run dry conditions
Optical Level Sensor food industry when using oil, coolant, or
hydraulics

Water treatment, industrial Uses a probe to read

Conductivity Level Sensor processing, chemical, HVAC conductivity

Oil and gas, chemical, food

Vibrating (Tuning Fork) and beverage, Uses based on the material
Level Sensor pharmaceutical that they can sense