Autartic Manufacturing Systems Now A Reality With The Digitization Of Manufacturing

We used to check our auto oil with a long metal stick, seeing if the oil was above or below a line; now an oil sensor does this for us. Is your factory getting too humid? A humidity sensor will soon have it under control. As their names imply, there is no end in sight: medical sensors, automotive sensors, mems sensors, etc.

The industrial world is being remade in our image as scientists and engineers seek to make sensing technology a part of every process from design to manufacture to end product. If every piece of equipment can report it’s state and condition, just like humans try to do, manufacturing can be better than ever before. This revolution is largely the result of the digitization of manufacturing and the increasing availability of sensors.

Up Trending Market For Sensors

The Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) industry is being transformed through the adoption of a variety of packaging automation solutions and sensor manufacturers are seeing increased demand as a result.

According to recent reports, the global market for “acoustic wave sensors” shows growth in demand across different application segments. The same can be said for “rotary rate sensors” used in micro-machining, “pressure sensors” in motor management, and temperature, pressure, torque and viscosity sensors, among others.

Huge Bulk Orders For Sensors

Sensors are being used more and more in markets that are transforming and growing so that huge bulk orders result.

With increased functionality comes the need for increased safeguarding of equipment. With the advent of preventative maintenance, sensors now help with self-monitoring, self calibration, self adjustment and reconfiguration. Other trends in sensors include miniaturization and contactless measuring.

Sensors Help Improve Efficiency & Cut Energy Costs

Costs of manufacturing are being improved by the widespread application of energy-autonomous sensors and sensors with wireless communications. Autartic energy generation, or self sufficient economical energy generation, is becoming more common as piezeoelectric, thermal electric, electromagnetic, capacitive, biochemical, fuel cell, photovoltaic and networked measuring sites collect information, measure values, and transmit energy.

Falling Prices For Sensors

With prices for sensors of all kinds falling over the next decade, increasing use of sensors in applications from automotive to consumer-electronics will continue to increase. On the cutting-edge of sensor trends are the creation and adoption of digital interfaces, wireless measuring, autonomous sensor systems and miniaturized sensor networks.

Another great driver for the sensor market is the huge opportunity offered by booming smart mobile communication, tablet and PC markets which all now use sensors with installed apps.

Tags: sensor market, sensors

This entry was posted on May 6th, 2014 and is filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.