Advanced Sensors

These are sensors that capture multiple values and send data that needs some conversions to used in your application. Such sensors usually come with a library that manages the conversion of the data to useful values.

We will cover the following sensors:

• Flex
• 3-Axes Accelerometer

An accelerometer is an electromechanical device used to measure acceleration forces. Such forces may be static, like the continuous force of gravity or, as is the case, with many mobile devices, dynamic to sense movement or vibrations. Acceleration is the measurement of the change in velocity or speed divided by time. It is measured in meters per second squared (m/s2) or in G-forces (g). A single G-force for us here on planet Earth is equivalent to 9.8 m/s2. Block 1: Accelerometers can measure acceleration on one, two, or three axes. Generally, accelerometers contain capacitive plates internally. Some of these are fixed, while others are attached to minuscule springs that move internally as acceleration forces act upon the sensor. As these plates move with each other, the capacitance between them changes, too. These changes in capacitance also help to determine the acceleration. Other accelerometers can be centered on piezoelectric materials. These tiny crystal structures output an electrical charge because of acceleration when placed under mechanical stress.

• GPS
• RFID
• Camera (This is not a sensor in the true sense of the word but it captures image and video data that be processes, analyzed, and used to make decisions and take actions just like with data from any other sensor.)