You're working on a robotics project. What sensors should you use?

Figure out the environment that the robot would operate in. Indoors: Solid State LIDARs, Depth cameras, and other ToF sensors such as VL53L0X. Ultrasonic work within 2m range, Infrared TSOPs are good from close range to upto 5m. Outdoors: Long range, possibly 360-degree Lidars, Radar such as mmWave by TI. Since outdoors the weather conditions could be a factor, cameras are not always successful but should be included. For safety reasons there should always be redundancy in distance sensors if possible, with data being gathered from more than 1 same or different type of sensor for higher accuracy and effective obstacle avoidance. More data points available, better the robot's navigation and perception. 1 ultrasonic or VL53L0X= 1 data point

Briefly mention real-world applications for each sensor type, aiding readers in making informed decisions based on specific project requirements. Additionally, a concise note on considering factors like range, accuracy, and cost during sensor selection would provide practical guidance.

To answer this, we need to define a baseline for what a robot is. Characterizing a robot as: "An entity that can move and possesses some sort of intelligence", the most critical sensor is the distance sensor, such as ultrasonic or infrared sensors, vital for spatial awareness and enabling safe navigation in diverse environments. This aligns with the primary function of a robot – to move and operate autonomously in varying spaces. While other sensors like light, force, sound, and temperature sensors add valuable layers of environmental interaction and task-specific capabilities, the foundational element of autonomous movement hinges predominantly on effective distance sensing.

Cameras LiDAR Radar Ultrasonic GNSS G p 's Radar and LiDAR Sensor Emergency braking IMU sensors Sensors used in autonomous vehicle systems Sonar

Robots need distance sensors to see and interact safely. They help robots explore, grip, operate, map, recognise, and track items by providing their location, size, and shape. The sensors aid navigation, obstacle avoidance, grasping, manipulation, mapping, object recognition, and safety. Robotics use ultrasonic, infrared, laser, and LiDAR distance sensors. Using sound waves, ultrasonic sensors measure distance, while infrared sensors produce and detect light for interior and obstacle avoidance. Laser sensors are precise and long-range, while LiDAR uses 3D laser scanning for environmental mapping and object detection. Accuracy, range, cost, environment, and operational conditions determine distance sensor selection.

Los sensores de luz son componentes importantes en robots, ya que proporcionan información sobre la intensidad luminosa y las condiciones de iluminación en el entorno. Aquí hay algunos tipos comunes de sensores de luz utilizados en robots: Fotodiodos: Estos dispositivos convierten la luz en corriente eléctrica. La cantidad de corriente generada depende de la intensidad de la luz incidente. Los fotodiodos se utilizan comúnmente para medir la intensidad de la luz ambiental. Fototransistores: Similar a los fotodiodos, los fototransistores amplifican la corriente generada por la luz. Se utilizan para detectar la presencia o ausencia de luz y son útiles en aplicaciones como interruptores de luz o sensores de obstáculos.

To perceive their environment, robots need light sensors to measure light intensity, colour, and movement. Object identification, line following, colour sorting, light intensity measurement, and gesture recognition are possible. Light sensors help robots identify barriers, track things, and distinguish materials by sensing light intensity. They can also measure ambient brightness, allowing robots to modify their behaviour. Advanced light sensors like 3D cameras can track objects and people for more intuitive interactions. Robotic light sensors include photoresistors, photodiodes, CCD/CMOS cameras, and LiDAR. Robot function, detail, and operational environment determine light sensor choice.

La lumière est le principal élément sur beaucoup de robots. Les détecteurs laser pour la simple présence de pièces, les caméras pour la mesure plus précise, etc

When undertaking a robotics project, the choice of sensors is pivotal, tailored to the project's specific needs. For assessing changes in illumination, identifying objects, or path following, light sensors play a crucial role. Photodiodes and phototransistors, being cost-effective, generate a current proportional to received light. Color sensors, employing filters or LEDs, distinguish various light wavelengths. Cameras, complex yet versatile, capture images and videos for algorithmic processing. The selection really hinges on project goals, environmental factors, and budget constraints, ensuring a strategic integration of sensors for optimal functionality.

In a robotics project, incorporating light sensors is crucial for various functionalities related to the detection and interpretation of light in the environment. These sensors measure the intensity or color of light, enabling the robot to respond to changes in illumination, identify objects, or follow a predefined path.

Los sensores de sonido en los robots permiten la detección y procesamiento de se?ales acústicas en su entorno. Estos sensores son útiles en diversas aplicaciones, desde la detección de eventos sonoros hasta la interacción con comandos de voz. Entre los más utilizados son los micrófonos que capturan ondas sonoras y las convierten en se?ales eléctricas. Pueden utilizarse para medir la intensidad del sonido, detectar patrones de audio o incluso para realizar tareas más avanzadas, como reconocimiento de voz.

Incorporating sound sensors in a robotics project offers the ability to interact with the environment through auditory cues. These sensors, such as microphones, piezoelectric sensors, and sound level meters, each serve distinct functions. Microphones transform sound waves into electrical signals, facilitating communication and recording. Piezoelectric sensors, reacting to sound wave-induced deformations, generate voltage, useful for detecting sound vibrations. Sound level meters, quantifying sound loudness in decibels, are essential for projects requiring noise level monitoring. The selection depends on the project's specific auditory requirements, whether it's for communication, listening, or sound source localization.

Miniature audio sensors improve a robot's awareness and capacities. Sound waves help robots interact with their environment in unique ways. Sound sensors are used in robotics for environment awareness and navigation, obstacle avoidance and safety, voice commands and human-robot interface, fault detection and monitoring, bioacoustics, and environmental monitoring. They monitor and analyse ambient sounds to assist robots distinguish footfall, machinery, running water, and spoken commands. Advanced sound sensors with speech recognition make robots more user-friendly by understanding and responding to spoken commands. For early maintenance and downtime reduction, sound sensors can detect and monitor faults.

The selection of sound sensors depends on the specific goals of the robotics project, considering factors such as the need for audio communication, sound localization, or monitoring sound intensity levels. Integrating sound sensors allows the robot to interact with its surroundings in a more dynamic and responsive manner.

Robotics depend on temperature sensors for safety and seamless functioning. They guide actions and avoid overheating and malfunctions by monitoring internal and exterior temperatures. They are strategically located throughout the robot's body to modify power usage, activate cooling fans, or suspend activity if temperatures rise too high. Robots can handle delicate goods and function in sensitive areas thanks to external temperature sensors. Safety is further improved by temperature sensors detecting fires and overheated machinery. They are employed in complex applications like object recognition and tracking. Robotic temperature sensors include thermometers, thermocouples, and infrared.

Dans les presses de forge, il est utilisé des pyromètre pour savoir si la pièce est suffisamment chaude pour la frapper, avant de la déposer avec le robot pour éviter de faire de la casse

Incorporating temperature sensors in a robotics project enhances the robot's ability to monitor its own temperature, adapt behavior, or sense material properties. Key types include thermistors, which change resistance with temperature, ideal for precision in limited ranges; thermocouples, generating voltage differences at high temperatures; and infrared thermometers for non-contact measurement, useful in hazardous environments. These sensors are vital for a robot's self-monitoring, environmental adaptation, and material interaction, particularly in climate-sensitive or manufacturing tasks, thereby broadening the robot's operational efficiency and responsiveness.

Temperature sensors enable the robot to monitor its own temperature, make adaptive adjustments in behavior, or sense the thermal properties of materials. The selection of temperature sensors depends on the specific requirements of the robotics project, considering factors such as the range of temperatures to be measured, precision needed, and whether contact or non-contact measurements are preferred. By integrating suitable temperature sensors, the robot can effectively monitor and respond to thermal conditions in its environment.

Robots need force sensors to modify their grasp strength and prevent crushing fragile objects in real time. They improve robot autonomy and damage reduction by detecting and avoiding obstacles. Force sensors help robots identify and characterise objects and adjust their activities. They facilitate human-robot collaboration and allow robots to adapt their movements for safer and more intuitive interactions. Haptic feedback and biomechanical research use force sensors for immersive virtual reality and better prosthetics. Robotics use strain gauges, piezoelectric, and capacitive force sensors. Force range, precision, reaction time, and environmental resilience determine sensor selection.

Incorporating force sensors into a robotics project enhances the robot's tactile capabilities. Load cells translate force into electrical signals for precision handling, strain gauges detect structural changes through resistance variation, and tactile sensors, akin to human skin, discern contact, pressure, or texture. These sensors are pivotal for tasks requiring delicate manipulation, balance, collision detection, and nuanced interaction with the environment. Their application ranges from precise object handling to safety features, significantly elevating the robot's operational scope and sensitivity.

Force sensors are pivotal in a robotics project, enabling the robot to manipulate objects, maintain balance, and detect collisions. Among these sensors, load cells excel, converting applied force into an electrical signal using components like springs or piezoelectric elements, making them ideal for precise force measurements. Strain gauges, responsive to stretching or compression, detect structural stress or deformation. Tactile sensors, mimicking human skin, excel at sensing contact, pressure, or texture, crucial for tasks requiring a sense of touch. Collectively, these force sensors enhance the robot's adaptability and responsiveness, playing a crucial role in its operational environment.

You can use all kinds of sensors tactile sensors Seam trackers for welding cp for painting apps strain gauges optical sensors for light beam detection photo Electric beams etc etc

Sur certains robots, on peut équipé des pressostats d'air, avec un système de handbroken pour estimer la force de contrainte sur le préhenseur et éviter les collisions

Though the article does some justice to the topic by introducing us different types of senors and their generalized used case, few other important aspects are, Problem and Environment definition: Clearly defining the problem and the environment the robot is going to work in is critical. Sensors like GPS work well outdoor but not a good choice for indoor applications. So, choose sensors after establishing these definitions. Documentation & support: Make sure the sensor you end up choosing has a good documentation or some community support. This way, if you are stuck, you won't be alone. Power constraints: Sensors come in various voltage requirements. If possible, try and keep a common voltage level else you might be forced to converters.

Choosing sensors for your robotics project depends heavily on its purpose and environment. Lidar reigns supreme for outdoor navigation with its exceptional range and precision, though cost might be a hurdle. Indoors, however, a multi-sensor fusion approach using IMUs, ultrasonic, and infrared sensors could provide robust obstacle detection and localization at a friendlier price point. For delicate manipulation tasks, consider force/torque sensors for real-time feedback and adaptive control. Don't forget about light and vision sensors for object recognition and tracking – OpenCV libraries can work wonders with basic webcams!

The answer to the main point - What sensors should you use? is pretty simple all or none or somewhere in between. There isn't a list of sensor you should have, what you need to have is a list of requirements and an understanding of the details of the process to be automated, its environment and any other factors that might influence your decisions when it comes to sensores. When introducing automation sometimes the focus moves away from finding an appropriate solution to the problem and moves towards an approach where the customer wants everything. The requirements captured need to decide the must, shoulds and wants for the set up to ensure the automated solutions works properly even if it doesn't have "all".

Really there is going to be a different sensor suite per robotics application. The sensors needed for a indoor mobile robot will vary dramatically to a farm based fruit picker for example. Also outdoor robotics face more challenges as they are exposed to dust, rain, and ever varying lighting situations. A obstacle camera detection camera may work 99 percent of the time in a indoor environment and not work at all outside and need major software and hardware changes to get it to function well. First define the environment and task list, then based on that choose the sensors required.

Os sensores instalados no rob? varia de projeto para projeto, dependendo da atividade a ser executada. Em sistemas de robótica submarina s?o usados sensores de press?o, humidade, nível, vacuum, entre outros. Quanto mais precis?o requer um rob?, mais sensores ele deve ter.