Sensors/Data Acquisition

Sensors

Access the latest developments used in sensor-related technologies. Learn more about essential applications for specialized sensors and durable designs for extreme conditions.

Stories

Briefs: Wearables

Liquid Metal Wearable Pressure Sensor

Soft pressure sensors have received significant research attention in a variety of fields including soft robotics, electronic skin, and wearable electronics. Researchers have developed a highly sensitive...

Briefs: Test & Measurement

Electronic Skin Powered by Sweat Serves as Human-Machine Interface

Researchers have developed electronic skin (e-skin) that is applied directly on top of real skin. Made from soft, flexible rubber, it can be embedded with sensors that monitor...

Briefs: Test & Measurement

Handheld Measuring Device Distinguishes Between Methanol and Potable Alcohol

Methanol is sometimes referred to as ethanol's deadly twin. While the latter is the intoxicating ingredient in wine, beer, and liquor, the former is a chemical that...

Briefs: Wearables

Graphene Made with Lasers for Wearable Health Devices

Graphene — hexagonally arranged carbon atoms in a single layer with superior pliability and high conductivity — could impact the development of future motion detection, tactile sensing,...

INSIDER: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Machine Intelligence to Build Soft Machines

Soft machines — a subcategory of robotics that uses deformable materials instead of rigid links — are an emerging technology commonly used in wearable robotics and biomimetics (e.g.,...

Question of the Week: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Would You Wear a Microgrid?

Our April issue of Tech Briefs highlighted a wearable microgrid that powers electronics by harvesting energy from the wearer’s body. The wearable (shown here) has three components: sweat-powered biofuel cells, motion-powered devices called triboelectric generators, and energy-storing supercapacitors. All parts are...

Blog: Connectivity

'Floating Sensors' Spread Like Dandelion Seeds

Dropped by a drone, the battery-free devices hover 100 meters in the air.

Videos: Data Acquisition

5 High-Tech Materials That Sense and Detect

A variety of electronics and sensors are being integrated into today’s materials to spot a variety of parameters: from damage to a product design to stress on your heart.

Question of the Week: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Do You See Valuable Uses for 'Floating Sensors?'

Researchers from the University of Washington want to send out sensors in the same way that a dandelion distributes seeds.

INSIDER: Wearables

Fast Low-Cost Sensor Prototyping for Wearable Technology

Engineers at UC Berkeley have developed a new technique for making sensors for wearable technology that enables medical researchers to prototype-test new designs much faster and at a...

INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Atomic Scale Semiconductor Chips — Pushing the Limits

The information age created over nearly 60 years has given the world the internet, smart phones, and lightning-fast computers. Making this possible has been the doubling of the number...

INSIDER: Electronics & Computers

Perovskite High-Performance Transistors Can Be Printed

A Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) research team has improved the performance of a p-type semiconductor transistor using inorganic metal halide perovskite. One of...

5 Ws: Green Design & Manufacturing

5 Ws of Floating Sensors

Wireless sensors inspired by Dandelions could be used to monitor climate change.

INSIDER: Design

Piezoelectric Polymers

A Penn State-led team of interdisciplinary researchers have developed a polymer with robust piezoelectric effectiveness, resulting in 60% more efficient electricity generation than previous iterations.

Special Reports: Unmanned Systems

Aerospace & Defense Sensing - April 2022

Designing the connected battlespace of the future...mobile robots that detect and alert soldiers to dangers in real time...'electronic skin' sensors capable of mimicking the dynamic process of human...

Products: Motion Control

New Products

Modular robot platforms, automated crane systems, motion smoothing, and more.

Articles: Test & Measurement

Simplifying Sensor Fabrication with Adhesive Compounds

Epoxy and silicone compounds serve a critical role as adhesives in electronics.

Products: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

New on the Market: April 2022

High-performance laser trackers, gimbal motors, air-quality sensors, and more.

Special Reports: Motion Control

Medical Robotics - April 2022

Novel biosensors set to revolutionize brain-controlled robotics...micro-robots propelled by air bubbles...a smart artificial hand...major advances in exoskeleton technology. These are just a few of the medical...