ABSTRACT
Sensors are used in many devices and systems to provide information on the parameters being measured or to identify the states of control. They are good candidates for increased built-in intelligence. Microprocessors can make smart sensors or devices a reality. With this added capability, it is possible for a smart sensor to directly communicate measurements to an instrument or a system. In recent years, the concept of computer networking has gradually migrated into the sensor community. Networking of transducers (sensors or actuators) in a system and communicating transducer information via digital means vs. analog cabling facilitates easy distributed measurements and control. In other words, intelligence and control, which were traditionally centralized, are gradually migrating to the sensor level. They can provide flexibility, improve system performance, and ease system installation, upgrade, and maintenance. Thus, the trend in industry is moving toward distributed control with intelligent sensing architecture. These enabling technologies can be applied to aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, military and homeland defenses, manufacturing process control, smart buildings and homes, and smart toys and appliances for consumers. As examples: (1) in order to reduce the number of personnel to run a naval ship from 400 to less than 100 as required by the reduced-manning program, the U.S. Navy needs tens of thousands of networked sensors per vessel to enhance automation, and (2) Boeing needs to network hundreds of sensors for monitoring and characterizing airplane performance.
