FEATURE SENSORS & SENSING SYSTEMS


HOW SENSOR TE AN INTELLIGENT


We are living in the age of intelligence. This is evident in the huge changes taking place in sensor technology, with sensors becoming more intelligent and capable of capturing more data. In fact there


has never been a more exciting time to be involved with sensors and with SICK Sensor Intelligence, as Nathaniel Hofmann, SICK UK market product manager, Machine Vision and Measurement, explains


S


ensors are in all aspects of our lives. Throughout the day we are surrounded by products that have been manufactured


using sensors, from breakfast cereals to cars to solar panels. As sensors capture more data, we are finding new ways to analyse and use it. This enhances operations for industrial companies globally, making them more competitive by honing their products and processes. I believe the limit to the use of sensors is imagination. If you’re not sure how sensor technology can benefit you, talk to us. You may not be aware of what is possible, or even what you need.


I work at the apex of sensors and machine vision, helping sensor technology to ‘see’ and make decisions about the information it receives. As the sensors themselves become more powerful, so too does the software that interprets the data they collect. With the advent of machine learning and AI, sensors are transforming from simple data collectors into powerful decision-makers.


HOW DO YOU GATHER AND USE ALL THE DATA SENSORS CAN NOW COLLECT? As sensors become more intelligent and user- friendly, the data they provide gets more meaningful. With intelligent sensors, technology can talk to us, and we need to learn how to listen. Sophisticated modern processing capabilities enable data to be pulled out and used in a variety of ways, including being analysed on-site, right where it’s collected, or accessed remotely for monitoring purposes. Applications for sensors


across industry range from predictive maintenance (continuously monitoring to predict when maintenance is needed to prevent unexpected failures and extend machine lifespan) to quality control (maintaining product quality, meeting increasingly strict standards, and ensuring consistency). Sensors can also


44 DESIGN SOLUTIONS FEBRUARY 2025


be used to enhance safety, increase visibility in the supply chain, improve energy management and ensure high product quality. Sensors are moving beyond simply recording


data on temperature, pressure and motion – they can now interpret and act on data in real-time. To give you a flavour of our latest SICK Sensor Intelligence technology, our recently-released compact LXRC and LXRH free-space radar fill level monitoring sensors collect data in an enormous variety of different industrial environments, providing a robust method of monitoring fill levels for almost all continuous level measurement applications: from aggregates to small liquid vials. The solution is easily fitted to most machines


and containers, with the LXRH providing the same high performance with hygiene adapters. Contactless sensors overcome a range of problems associated with alternative level measurement techniques as there is no contact and there are no dead zones, providing accurate, repeatable data. Mechanical process connections and IO-Link communications capabilities make the 80 GHz LXRC and LXRH sensors Industry 4.0 compatible and they are available with optional Bluetooth for easy commissioning and diagnostics on a mobile device.


A VISION OF THE FUTURE With vision sensors and solutions, image data can now be captured and used in a huge variety of ways to drive quality, productivity, and efficiency – from pinpoint accuracy for goal-line technology, to ensuring high regulatory standards are met. At SICK Sensor Intelligence we are committed to optimising vision data capture and analysis to develop more robust, innovative and insightful ways to digitalise operations. Vision sensors


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