NETAJI SUBHAS
UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY
Smart Sensor Technologies for IoT Applications
EIECE703
MANASVI RAJ
2022UEI2809
EIOT- 7th SEMESTER
1. Overview of Sensors in IoT
In the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, sensors act as the nervous system
—constantly collecting data from the physical world and feeding it to digital
systems for processing, decision-making, and action.
These sensors detect changes in environmental conditions such as
temperature, humidity, light, pressure, sound, motion, gas
concentration, or even biological signals.
The collected analog data is digitized and transmitted via
communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Zigbee, LoRa, BLE, etc.) to edge devices
or cloud platforms.
This data is used for automation, real-time monitoring, analytics, and
intelligent control across diverse applications:
o Smart agriculture (e.g., soil moisture sensors)
o Industrial IoT (IIoT) (e.g., vibration sensors for predictive
maintenance)
o Healthcare (e.g., wearable devices with heart rate sensors)
2. Classification of IoT Sensors
IoT systems rely on a wide range of sensors tailored to specific use cases:
• Biometric Sensors
Measure physiological parameters such as fingerprint, heart rate,
skin temperature, ECG, etc.
Applications: Authentication systems, smartwatches, fitness trackers,
patient monitoring systems.
• Light Sensors
Detect ambient light levels or intensity using photodiodes or LDRs.
Applications: Automatic screen brightness, daylight-responsive
lighting systems, smart street lights.
• Motion Detectors
Use technologies like PIR (Passive Infrared), ultrasonic, microwave,
and radar to sense movement.
Applications: Intrusion detection, gesture-based control, automatic
doors.
• Sound Sensors
Convert sound waves into electrical signals using microphones.
Applications: Voice-controlled devices (Alexa, Google Assistant),
noise pollution monitoring.
• Gas Detectors
Identify and measure gases like CO, CO₂, CH₄, LPG, etc.
Applications: Air quality monitoring, industrial safety systems,
kitchen safety alarms.
• Accelerometers
Detect linear acceleration, tilt, and orientation of an object.
Applications: Fall detection, fitness step counters, mobile screen
rotation, vehicle dynamics.
• Humidity Sensors
Measure relative humidity (RH) using capacitive or resistive
elements.
Applications: HVAC systems, weather stations, smart agriculture.
• Imaging Sensors
Capture visual information using CCD or CMOS sensors.
Applications: Surveillance, face recognition, machine vision,
autonomous driving.
3. Metrics Defining Sensor Performance
Selecting the right sensor involves evaluating key performance metrics:
• Precision
Indicates repeatability—the ability of the sensor to return the same
output under the same conditions.
• Accuracy
Shows how close the sensor output is to the true value of the
measured parameter.
• Sensitivity
Defines how much change in output occurs for a small change in the
input.
• Operational Range
Refers to the minimum and maximum values a sensor can accurately
measure.
• Latency
The delay between input stimulus and sensor output—crucial for
real-time applications.
• Power Efficiency
Especially important in battery-operated IoT devices, where long life
and low consumption are vital.
• Measurement Resolution
Determines the smallest detectable change in the measured value.
4. Privacy and Security Challenges in Sensor Networks
With their pervasive deployment, IoT sensors are vulnerable to cyber
threats:
Common Threats:
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks: Intercepting communication
between sensors and hubs.
Spoofing: Malicious actors fake sensor identities or data.
Data Snooping: Unauthorized access to sensitive personal or
environmental data.
Jamming: Disruption of sensor communication through radio
interference.
Denial-of-Service (DoS): Flooding the network to prevent legitimate
sensor data transmission.
Mitigation Techniques:
Use end-to-end encryption (e.g., TLS, AES) for secure communication.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., certificates, tokens).
Employ firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and access control
lists (ACLs).
Regularly update firmware to patch vulnerabilities.
Apply data anonymization to protect user identity and personal details.
5. Criteria for Selecting and Deploying Sensors in IoT
Effective IoT deployment starts with choosing the right sensors and placing
them strategically.
Selection Factors:
Functionality: Understand what you need to sense (e.g., temperature vs.
motion).
Technical Specifications: Evaluate parameters like sensitivity, resolution,
range, etc.
Environmental Compatibility: Sensor durability in presence of dust,
moisture, vibration, or temperature extremes.
Power Requirements: Battery-powered sensors need to be low-power
and possibly energy-harvesting.
Cost-effectiveness: Optimize for performance while staying within
budget.
Platform Integration: Ensure compatibility with microcontrollers,
gateways, and cloud platforms.
Deployment Considerations:
Sensor Placement: Must ensure full area coverage without interference.
Calibration: Initial and periodic calibration ensures accurate readings.
Maintenance Plan: Include regular checks and updates to preserve data
reliability.
Network Topology: Decide between star, mesh, or hybrid configurations
based on range, fault tolerance, and redundancy.
Thank
You
