Abstract:In today's era of keeping up with the times, intelligent sensors should be born. Sensors are widely used in fields such as automotive, industrial automation, aerospace technology, military engineering, environmental detection, etc. The emergence of intelligent sensors has further expanded the scope involved, and intelligent sensors may have great applications in the future.
　　
　What is a smart sensor
　　
Intelligent sensors not only have visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, and gustatory functions, but also should have brain abilities such as memory, learning, thinking, reasoning, and judgment. The former is accomplished by traditional sensors. Intelligent processors should intelligently process the digital signals output by ADCs, with four main intelligent processing functions:
　　
1. Self compensation function
　　
Based on prior knowledge of traditional sensors and environmental conditions, the processor utilizes digital computing methods to automatically compensate for signal distortion caused by hardware linearity, nonlinearity, drift, and environmental factors of traditional sensors, in order to accurately recover the measured signal. The calculation method is implemented using software to achieve the goal of software compensation for hardware defects.
　　
2. Self computing and processing capabilities
　　
Based on the given mathematical models for indirect and combined measurements, the intelligent processor can calculate the values of physical quantities that cannot be directly measured using compensated data. The given statistical model can be used to calculate the overall statistical characteristics and parameters of the tested object. Using known electronic data sheets, the processor can recalibrate sensor characteristics.
　　
3. Self learning and adaptive functions
　　
Sensors learn from the measured sample values, while processors use approximate formulas and iterative algorithms to recognize new measured values, thus possessing the ability to relearn. Meanwhile, by learning from the measured and affected variables, the processor adaptively reconstructs the structure and resets parameters using judgment criteria. For example, self selected range, self selected channel, automatic triggering, automatic filtering switching, and automatic temperature compensation.
　　
4. Self diagnostic function
　　
Due to internal and external factors, sensor performance may decrease or fail, respectively referred to as soft and hard faults. The processor utilizes compensated state data to locate faults through electronic fault dictionaries or relevant algorithms.
　　
With the continuous improvement of smart sensor technology, smart sensors are gradually integrating into our daily lives. With the breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as materials science, nanotechnology, microelectronics, and the demands of economic and social development.

The following four areas may become the focus of the future development of intelligent sensor technology.
　　
One is wearable applications. According to ABI Research, the number of wearable sensors will reach 160 million in 2017. Wearable devices represented by Google Glass are the most highly anticipated hardware innovations. Google Glass is equipped with over 10 types of sensors, including gyroscope sensors, acceleration sensors, magnetic sensors, linear acceleration sensors, etc., which enable some functions that traditional terminals cannot achieve, such as users only need to blink their eyes to take photos.
　　
The second is autonomous driving. In this field, Google's autonomous vehicle project has achieved important results. Through the installation of cameras, radar sensors, and laser rangefinders in the car, real-time road condition information of the surrounding area of the car is generated at intervals of 20 times per second, and analyzed using artificial intelligence software to predict future road conditions. At the same time, Google Maps is used for road navigation. Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Ford and other cars have all started research and development of autonomous driving technology, and some models are close to mass production.
　　
The third is medical care and health monitoring. Many medical research institutions at home and abroad, including the medical industry, have made significant progress in the application of sensor technology in the medical field. Some research institutions have made progress in manufacturing sensors using materials that can be embedded or swallowed into the body.
　　
The fourth is industrial control. In 2012, GE put forward in the report Industrial Internet: Breaking the Boundaries between Intelligence and Machines that connecting people and machines through intelligent sensors, combined with software and big data analysis, can break the limits of physics and material science, and will change the way the world operates. The report also pointed out that by deploying the industrial Internet, the United States can achieve 1% efficiency improvement in all industries, and the energy industry will save 1% of fuel in 15 years.
　　
With the advancement of smart sensor technology, smart sensors are increasingly integrated into our lives, putting people first and making life better.