Smart sensors are fundamental parts of factories that adhere to the principles of Industry 4.0. After all, they are the ones that allow the equipment to monitor its activities and, thus, work autonomously and in a preventive manner.
What are smart sensors
The sensor is a device sensitive to a certain quantity, which changes its state proportionally to the stimulus on it. The magnitude of the change in state leads to the knowledge of the magnitude of the greatness that caused it.
There are several types of sensors. In industrial applications, the information produced by them is communicated to a receiver electronically to then generate decision making.
Until recently, the applications of the sensors were normally limited to producing only one type of information, which resulted in specific decisions. Today, however, mainly with the development of efficient and reliable communication network protocols, such as the Internet itself, it is possible to integrate several sensors and their receivers into a network.
With that, intelligent sensors allow the development of systems that optimize, update and reconfigure tasks. In addition, their performance can be monitored and modified remotely.
These sensors that can be reprogrammed and exchange data with various elements of the communication network that are part (including other sensors), enabling a variety of integrated applications, are called intelligent sensors.
The advantages generated for the industrial manager
Intelligent sensors bring a series of advantages to the factories that use it, ranging from more adequate monitoring of processes to more agility in decision making.
A food industry can produce food products with individual characteristics according to the wishes of each client, without compromising the speed and quality of production, thanks to the communication of all these elements in the same network, from the production line to the resale, through logistics.
The applications of sensors in Industry 4.0
The applications of intelligent sensors in Industry 4.0 are numerous. Everything will depend on the needs of each industry: on the so-called factory floor, for example, they can be found in equipment, on walls, windows, in employees’ clothing or PPE, in vehicles, etc.
They can still be integrated into forklifts and thus prevent accidents and suggest new dynamics for the sector. Another example is that the smart sensors identify the postures of employees and issue security alerts.
High-performance sensors offer long-distance detection and greater tolerance to environmental conditions for industries such as food and beverages, handling and movement of materials and packaging. They provide solutions for loss prevention and more quality in the production processes through continuous improvement of the process, in search of “zero defects”.
These sensors are easily integrate with automation architectures, providing data and diagnostics directly from the sensor to a control system, helping to minimize downtime and increase productivity, being one of the pillars of industry 4.0. With this feature, the sensors provide information such as signal strength, location, proximity alarms and timing functions that increase operational efficiency and compliance of the final product.
To be activated, the sensors basically depend on good equipment, good programming and an efficient data transit network, such as the internet. With that, they become a vital component of Industry 4.0 and have enormous power to generate improvements and increase business productivity.
Solutions for your business
The limit of the useful application of intelligent sensors is more in creativity combined with technical knowledge than in technology itself. Whether you’re looking for implementation of sensors in your company, our team at Cofood is equipped to help you find the right solutions for your products. Contact us today to discover the right solution for your business.
