Sensors Make Sense

Currently I’m a 3rd year mechatronics engineering student and am grateful for all the knowledge i have gained throughout the whole journey where many things makes sense to me right now after learning all the theories, practical work, assignments, etc. Mechatronics engineering is a growing industry and is integrated with electronics, mechanical and a slight bit of robotics to it. It is as exciting as it sounds, since its a combination of one of the top 3 engineering majors.

I have had many modules so far as a mechatronics student, but this one particular module really stood up to me among the rest, it was “Sensors and Actuators”. It is quite obvious what this module is about where the title says it all, its an introduction module to sensors and actuators. We get to learn tons of sensors, actuators and their working principle. The module’s name might be “Sensors and Actuators”, but my whole focus was on the sensors, cause I was quite fascinated by how many sensors are out there and most importantly the functions of each sensors respectively. Although sensors are quite small in size, but they have a significant impact, making a huge difference in various applications.

When I was a kid, i was intrigued by the automated sliding door at the supermarkets where it opens by itself when someone walks at the front of it. I asked my dad how does this thing functions without any work is applied to it and that was my first time i encountered the word “Sensor” by him. At that age, i was all about asking questions and never took the initiative to research more about it which sounds reasonable. The moment i started my mechatronics engineering journey, i started diving into the world of sensors. There are countless types of sensors out there, each designed to detect a wide array of stimuli—everything from light, temperature, and motion to more complex inputs like skin, eye movements, and even emotions. I finally found out how the automated sliding door works, it has a whole lot of mechanism involved to it but the key component to make it all happen is a sensor, to be more specify IR sensor is used for this process.

I came to a realization that sensors is one of the most important devices in the engineering field, cause sensors are being utilized literally in everything we see around us right now, from automatic doors to smart home automation and many more countless application with sensors integrated to it. Not to mention that the current modern cars are filled with multiple sensors around it, like for example the Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) enable features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and parking assistance through the use of cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. The integration of these sensors not only enhances safety and driving experience but also lays the groundwork for fully autonomous vehicles, where sensors play a crucial role in navigating complex road conditions and ensuring passenger safety.

Just imagine, if sensors can already transform cars into intelligent, responsive systems, think about the limitless possibilities they could bring to our future. Sensors hold incredible potential to solve current problems and create new opportunities we haven't even thought of yet. In this regard, there’s no doubt that the future of sensors is a great one filled with potential game-changing inventions which will have the ability to improve people’s lives, influence sectors profoundly, and provide answers for urgent worldwide issues. I strongly encourage students to explore the field of sensors, as their development and application could hold the key to unlocking smarter, safer, and more efficient solutions for the world.

By Dhivessh Vengada Thevan, 21