Understanding Smart Sensors - Nomads.usp

8Transceivers, Transponders, andTelemetryTricorder readings indicate an unusually high level of nitrium.—Lt. Commander Data, from Star Trek: The Next Generation8.1 IntroductionA monumental change that accelerated at the end of the twentieth century andthat is also affecting sensing is the desire for portable, wireless products. Theproliferation of portable computers combined with wireless communicationwill have the same effect on sensing that the shift from mainframe to personalcomputers had on the factory floor. The number of sensed parameters and theease of obtaining measurements will increase based on remote, wireless sensing.Remote measurements require the combination of the digital technologies (discussedin Chapter 5) and radio frequency (RF) semiconductors, including radiofrequency ICs (RFICs). In some instances, RF technology is used to performthe sensing function.The use of RF technology in remote sensing historically has been associatedwith geophysical analysis of parameters such as air and surface temperature,wind velocity, and precipitation rate. That information is necessary topredict weather and is typically gathered from equipment mounted on aircraft,satellites, and weather balloons. The applications of RF continue to grow;newer commercial applications that are portable and have much lower costobjectives will be the focus of this chapter.173