To say we’re living in exciting technological times, would be an understatement.  AI, 5G, ML, IoT, AR, VR – acronyms that have been transported from the pages of fantasy novels to reality at our fingertips. They also represent technologies that work together well, and are being leveraged by young and old to reshape how we think about almost all products and services today.

Increasing adoption of IoT, advances in machine learning and increasing acceptance and use of AI is leading to increased automation across industries that, previously, have been satisfied with traditional assembly line-style approaches.

Think, too, but the role that sensors will play. Thanks to 4G, and the widening availability of 5G, it is possible to have more connected devices working effectively in a relatively small geographic footprint. The expectation is that 5G will eventually make it possible for up to 1 million devices to be connected per square kilometre, almost instantaneous responsiveness (low latency), which will open the door for greater use of sensors.

Combining sensors with AI will also be a game changer. Sensors collect data, feeding it into the user’s network to trigger various commands. AI can then be used to analyse this data, generate insights and make recommendations.

The possibilities are endless. As a result, according to Statista, “the Autonomous and Sensor Technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.3% from 2023 to 2030.

In addition to the common use cases such as HVAC, lighting, shading, air quality, water levels, leak detection, alarm security and life safety systems, energy management, robotics, pest control, etc. some relatively new applications include:

• Infrastructure monitoring for deterioration and predictive maintenance.

• Lift analysis. From monitoring the ride experience on elevators, and assessing it in tandem with what traffic data from other sensors, to analysing how forklifts perform with various weight loads, and various heights, equipment and last longer with less downtime. In this instance, sensors are used to check for unusual noises, increased heat, smoothness of operation, etc.

• Smart locks, cameras with facial recognition and door access the connected to improve building safety.

• Elevating pest control by combining activity sensors, motion sensors, infrared sensors and pressure sensors so that smart traps can automatically deal with vermin. Who knows? Maybe this might even take care of both indestructible cockroaches!

• Waste management and recycling. Especially important for industrial commercial buildings, be able to manage waste and have higher diversion rates can significantly impact sustainability metrics and lower costs. By using sensors and cameras, bin contents and contamination levels can be checked quickly, accurately and remotely – a real boon at a time when labour shortages are plaguing waste collection.

• Improving athletic performance. Imagine the data that can be captured by having sensors in hockey sticks, baseball bats, soccer balls, etc., tying that together with data from cameras and using AI to help correlate this data with game video from world class athletes… Sporting performance levels may increase in astounding ways.

• Pressure sensing medical devices have been around for a while. Now combine those new technologies and remote surgery become routine.

• Improved crop yields. Sensors are already being used to monitor soil pH levels, moisture content, etc. Now use AI to capture data and weather conditions, soil conditions, weather patterns and other key crop growth factors – and then program all that data into the seed drill, and the tractor pulling it.

There are many, many applications that will change just about every industry we do not. Please contact us: [email protected], or call 1.877.238.9944, if you want some ideas on how you, too, can make sensors work hard for you.