What is the difference between a normal sensor and a smart sensor?

It is the 21st century, and innovation has taken a brand new course in the form of new surveillance and ‘Internet of Things’ technology. In all its functions, the IoT infrastructure uses an extensive array of sensors to collect and transmit data over the internet to cloud-based central computers.

This growing dependence of IoT on sensors has brought sensor demand to a new level. According to Statista, in 2019, the smart sensors’ global market was projected to reach 21.5 billion USD. While many sectors use base sensors for their operations, more refined processes require smart sensors.

The difference between a normal sensor and a smart sensor is that a smart sensor is embedded with a Digital Motion Processor or DMP. A smart sensor can accept input from external sources and use pre-built functions to detect a specific combination of inputs. A regular sensor does not include a DMP. It accepts external inputs and does not perform any functions itself. The manufacturer then does processing and calculations.

Benefits of using a smart sensor

1. Increases speed and efficiency

A manufacturer can speed up his design cycle with the help of a smart sensor. Using a smart sensor helps minimize common errors during the routing between regular sensors and MCU. This creates a more efficient product that, in turn, saves design costs.

The embedded DMP computes input received by the sensor into useful information. This means that the MCU of the device does not have to exhaust energy to compute the input data. This saves the device power that the base sensors would otherwise use up.

2. Aids the IoT technology

Sensors and smart sensors are an integral part of the ‘Internet of Things’ or IoT technology. The value of the IoT sensors market is projected to reach USD 22.48 billion by 2023. Sensors are used to identify various data parameters from multiple sources of information and then communicate the information to active networks. Basically, sensors help in the collection and computation of the data that IoT devices act upon.

With Corteza’s application programming interface (API), the real-time data collected by these sensors can be directly transmitted and linked to other devices without involving additional time-consuming steps in between.

3. Automation

Smart sensors are the backbone of device automation. They can give machines pre-set signals to instruct the machines on when to work and how to work without any human intervention. When combined with Corteza’s Corredor automation engine for back-office processes, this sensor automation can enhance your office’s efficiency in multiple ways. This is referred from time-saving through automated office processes to energy saving through automated machine instructions.

4. Space

Since smart sensors come with an embedded DMP, input processing and calculations are done on the sensor itself. This saves space that is otherwise reserved for the input sensor to MCU routing required for processing.

5. Accuracy

Smart sensors enable a more accurate collection and retrieval of environmental data. The automated collection of information results in less erroneous noise that is recorded with other accurate information.

Planet Crust’s low-code platform Corteza creates apps that you can easily integrate with smart sensor technology

Creating apps and websites has never been easier. The open-source low-code development platform Corteza, created and maintained by Planet Crust, allows you to build various software tools with simple ‘drag and drop’ techniques. What’s more? The Planet Crust’s CRM Suite, built on Corteza, comes with its very own IoT dashboard that allows convenient sensor integration. Decked with futuristic automation features and based on a cloud-ready architecture, Corteza offers you the best open-course service available. Get a free trial of the ultimate low-code solution for your business.