Sensors

Scientists develop a compact and robust optical sensor that can convert light to digital signals for use in flexible electronics.

Bioelectrical sensors on the skin can be used to measure electrical signals in the body, like heart activity and muscle contraction. While that provides valuable information for clinicians, current bioelectrical sensor technology can be ineffective, uncomfortable, expensive, and difficult to manufacture.

After a hand injury, it is important to follow a rehabilitation programme to ensure a quick recovery and re-establish strength and function of the hand. The material belongs to the CareGum family. This particular one is thermo-electric, based on silk and has a number of features that makes it versatile and excellent as a wearable sensor on the human body.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people have grown accustomed to wearing face masks to protect themselves and others, but that doesn't mean the masks are always comfortable — especially during exercise. Now, researchers have developed a dynamic respirator that modulates its pore size in response to changing conditions, such as exercise or air pollution levels, allowing the wearer to breathe easier when the highest levels of filtration are not required.

Prophesee, developers of event-based vision systems and associated software, have recently launched a cheaper, more compact 4th generation of its sensors via a collaboration with strategic partner Sony. IDTechEx caught up with CEO Luca Verre to find out more.

Absorbing the movement from the body, these super-smart textiles will not only power electronic components, but also act as self-powered functional sensors that are able to accurately sense the movements of targeted body parts.

Brewer Science is best known for production of advanced materials, primarily for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. It also produces a wide range of printed sensors, which this profile focuses on. These are capable of detecting a variety of parameters such as temperature, degree of flex and soluble ion concentration. IDTechEx caught up with R&D Director Dr Adam Scott to find out more.

Lightware is a LiDAR manufacturer that have been established in 2014 and has more than 40 years of LiDAR experience. They are working on miniaturised technologies that are bringing their hardware into a new, low price point compared to the competition.

IDTechEx interviewed Venk Varadan, Co-Founder and CEO of Nanowear. They are developing a new type of nanotechnology-based sensing material in textile, with applications in AI-based remote diagnostics applications.

Thursday 30 September 2021 - Emerging applications for capacitive sensors, such as leak detection; Spatially resolved temperature sensors, for monitoring EV batteries and electronics, that can be combined with other functionalities; and more! Will conclude with Q&A for pre-submitted questions

A team of engineers and biotechnologists has for the first time shown in mammals that the concentration of antibiotics in the body can be determined using breath samples. The breath measurements also corresponded to the antibiotic concentrations in the blood. The team's biosensor - a multiplex chip that allows simultaneous measurement of several specimens and test substances - will in future enable personalized dosing of medicines against infectious diseases on-site and help to minimize the development of resistant strains of bacteria.

Omron engineers have worked hard to create long lasting and reliable sensing products for manufacturers and product designers. With continued growth of smart sensor demand within the touchless market and for the medical industry, Omron has continued improvements on their latest sensing product, the B5L Time of Flight sensor.

Researchers use ultraviolet light to tune circuit performance with a photoreactive polymer based on controlled changes in the chemical structure, which may lead to the development of wearable electronics and medical sensors.

In-mold electronics enables electronic functionality to be embedded within molded and thermoformed plastic components. With the integration of capacitive touch, lighting, and even haptics alongside size and weight reductions of up to 70%, IME is an efficient approach to making curved touch-sensitive interfaces. Given these benefits, IDTechEx forecasts IME to be a $1.5 billion market by 2032, with applications mainly within the automotive and consumer goods sectors.

The Nano Tag - the world's smallest BLE beacon, and the first disposable wearable tag - to solve for worker safety, patient and visitor experience use cases for the healthcare, hospitality and events industries.

At present most temperature sensors are not printed from solution but are instead made from inorganic materials.

Researchers have developed a new method to 3D print mechanisms that detect how force is being applied to an object. The structures are made from a single piece of material, so they can be rapidly prototyped. A designer could use this method to 3D print "interactive input devices," like a joystick, switch, or handheld controller, in one go.

Thin film photodetectors promise an entirely different method of image sensing compared to conventional image sensors based on silicon or other crystalline inorganic materials (such as InGaAs).

The new IDTechEx report, "Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022-2042", discovers that level 3 autonomous vehicle technology has been ready since 2017- so where are the autonomous vehicles? The answer lies in unclear liability rules, which have turned out to be a massive headache for automakers like Audi, Tesla, GM, Mercedes, and others.

Applus IDIADA is a worldwide leader in the testing, inspection and certification sector. It has a workforce of over 23,000 employees and is active in more than 70 countries. They are currently working on a state of the art testing centre located near Oxford, UK.