DS-AUG-PG58+59_Layout 1 09/07/2026 14:59 Page 2


55thanniversary


sensors & sensinG sYsTeMs


feaTure


oluTion of indusTrial opTical sensors


sub-wavelength nanostructures, known as nanopillars, to manipulate light at a scale smaller than its wavelength. This allows ultra-thin lenses to be created. These can be as little as 0.5mm thick, but deliver performance comparable to conventional lenses many times their size. For optical sensors, this has the potential to


be a game changer. Dramatically reducing the size and weight of optical components through meta-optics could unlock new design possibilities and applications, particularly in technologies such as LiDAR sensors for mobile robots.


Photonics While meta-optics focuses on capturing and directing light, photonics is concerned with processing it. Although photonics is a relatively mature


technology, interest and investment have accelerated rapidly with the growth of AI. Traditionally, fibre-optic systems convert photons into electrons for processing. Photonic chips have the potential to eliminate this step by processing light directly, reducing the need for energy-intensive electronic conversion. The implications are significant, particularly


for industrial applications where energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important. More efficient data processing could help reduce power consumption and improve performance in industries ranging from datacentres to electric vehicles. Looking further ahead,


advances in photonics could dramatically reduce the energy required for computing while enabling faster processing speeds. At present, photonic technology remains


expensive and requires further development before widespread adoption becomes viable. Its greatest impact is likely to be felt in industrial and data-processing environments before reaching consumer electronics.


Incremental progress but sIgnIfIcant Impact The fundamental principles behind optical sensing have not undergone revolutionary changes over the past few decades. Instead, progress has been driven by continuous incremental improvements. Collectively, these advances have delivered substantial gains in performance and dramatically expanded the range of applications in which optical sensors can be used. Robots, for example, have become significantly


faster and more responsive, while modern sensors can distinguish between a person breaking a light beam and a raindrop passing through it. The underlying technologies may have evolved gradually, but their real-world capabilities have advanced enormously.


fInal thoughts Sensors are the eyes and ears of modern machines. In highly mechanical systems,


processes can still operate using springs, compression and other purely mechanical methods, but these approaches are often less efficient and less adaptable. As industrial


processes continue to evolve from mechanical to increasingly electronic and data-driven systems, sensors are playing a more critical role than ever. They provide the information needed to monitor conditions, improve efficiency, enhance safety and enable greater levels of automation. With emerging technologies such as meta-


optics and photonics beginning to reshape what is possible, the next generation of sensors is likely to be smaller, smarter and more capable. These advances are expected to accelerate adoption across industry and unlock an even wider range of applications in the years ahead.


siCK www.sick.com/gb/en/


“As industrial


processes continue to evolve from mechanical to


increasingly electronic and data-driven


systems, sensors are


playing a more critical role than ever”


Alwin Van Binsbergen


www.designsolutionsmag.co.uk


JulY/auGusT 2026 DesiGn sOLUtiOns 1971-2026 59


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