What Are Industrial Sensors?

A sensor is an object whose purpose is to detect events or changes in its environment, and then provide a corresponding output. A sensor is a type of transducer; sensors may provide various types of output, but typically use electrical or optical signals. For example, a thermocouple generates a known voltage (the output) in response to its temperature (the environment). A proximity Sensors detects an object close to it and sends an output to A PLC, Relay, Counter or other Component.

Sensors are used in everyday applications and systems such as touch-sensitive elevator buttons (tactile sensor) and on conveyor lines to detect presence or absence of objects. With advances in micro-machinery and easy-to-use micro controller platforms, the uses of sensors have expanded beyond the most traditional fields. Applications include manufacturing and machinery, airplanes and aerospace, cars, medicine, robotics and many other aspects of our day-to-day life.