Rapid development of the Internet of Things in the smart sensor industry
The Internet of Things (IoT) is driven by perception, and the stable operation of IoT systems relies heavily on a variety of sensing technologies. Among these, sensors are one of the most critical components. As the "touchpoint" of the IoT, sensors play an essential role in today’s information-driven world, with their applications spanning across industries such as industrial production, environmental monitoring, bioengineering, and medical diagnostics. They are becoming increasingly intelligent, compact, and digitally advanced.
With the rapid growth of the IoT, understanding the sensor industry is crucial for grasping the broader IoT landscape. This article, originally published in the public account “Global Internet of Things Observation†under the title “Smart Sensors: The High-Tech of the IoT, Must Be Raised During the Era,†explores the latest technological advancements, application scenarios, industry standards, and the development of the sensor supply chain. It aims to help professionals gain a deeper understanding of the sensor sector.
1. **New Technologies and Innovations**
Today, it's widely accepted that modern science and technology cannot function without sensors. Countries around the world are placing high importance on sensor development, and no one wants to fall behind in this fast-evolving field.
For example, the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Bangor University in the UK have developed the first optical fiber chemical sensor based on black phosphorus, enabling ultra-sensitive detection of heavy metal ions. This breakthrough combines black phosphorus with tilted fiber gratings, creating a new type of highly sensitive chemical sensor. The development of this black-phosphorus-based fiber sensor offers a superior platform for chemical and biological sensing, advancing research in biosensors.
Meanwhile, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Yonsei University have also made significant progress. Their photodiode device uses a hybrid dimensional structure composed of two-dimensional tungsten selenide and one-dimensional zinc oxide nanowires. Published in *Advanced Materials*, this device exhibits strong light response and high hole mobility, making it ideal for next-generation image sensors.
At the University of Manchester, researchers have designed graphene-based sensors integrated into RFID systems, which could revolutionize IoT applications such as battery-free smart wireless monitoring in manufacturing, food safety, healthcare, and nuclear waste management.
In addition, smart MOF photonic sensors from Oxford University and quantum sensors from Germany are showing promising potential in micro-magnetic field applications.
2. **Key Applications**
Smart sensors are now widely used in aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and agricultural production. In robotics, they enable machines to mimic human-like sensing and decision-making abilities, allowing them to perceive and respond to their environment effectively.
In industrial settings, traditional sensors often struggle to measure complex product quality indicators like viscosity, hardness, and color. Smart sensors, however, can directly monitor process-related parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow, using neural networks or expert systems to estimate product quality.
As sensor technologies continue to evolve, the market for their applications is expanding. Fingerprint recognition and autonomous driving are currently leading markets, while robotics and medical devices may become the next big growth areas.
In autonomous vehicles, space constraints make traditional sensors less effective. Smart sensors, on the other hand, offer accurate data acquisition at a manageable cost, along with enhanced automation and versatility.
For instance, Google’s self-driving cars use a combination of laser scanners, cameras, radar, and inertial systems, all relying heavily on sensor technology. Common sensors in these vehicles include LiDAR, image sensors, and millimeter-wave radar.
Fingerprint recognition is another major application area. With smartphones evolving rapidly, fingerprint sensors have become a standard feature. By 2016, over 700 million fingerprint sensors were sold, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 133%. As more smart devices adopt this technology, the market for fingerprint sensors is expected to grow significantly.
3. **Industry Standards and Policies**
To ensure the healthy development of the sensor industry, regulatory frameworks and standardized practices are essential. Over the years, various policies have been introduced to support sensor innovation and development.
China’s “12th Five-Year Plan for Electronic Components†and the “Internet of Things Development Plan†both emphasized the need for miniaturized and smart sensors. The “Made in China 2025†strategy further reinforced the direction of sensor development, while the “13th Five-Year National Science and Technology Innovation Plan†focused on R&D and innovation in new sensor technologies.
In 2018, several national standards related to smart sensors and instrumentation were implemented, contributing to the industry’s growth. These standards cover smart sensors, smart meters, and intelligent flow meters, promoting consistency and quality across the sector.
As the sensor industry matures, standardization will likely become a key marker of its development, alongside trends like intelligence and digitization.
4. **Industry Chain Overview**
Smart sensors integrate signal detection with microprocessor-based data processing, offering greater value than traditional sensors. While domestic companies still lag behind global giants, the Chinese sensor industry is gradually building a more comprehensive ecosystem, including design, manufacturing, packaging, testing, software, and chip development.
Leading international companies in R&D and design include AT&T Bell Labs, IBM, IMEC, and universities like MIT and UC Berkeley. Domestically, institutions such as the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology and Peking University are actively involved in smart sensor research.
Major global manufacturers include ST, Sony, Bosch, and Qualcomm, while Chinese firms like TSMC, SMIC, and Silan Micro are emerging as key players. Packaging and testing are dominated by companies like Amkor and KYEC, with domestic players such as Goerre Acoustics and U.S. Semiconductor gaining traction.
Software and chip development are also important parts of the supply chain. International companies like NXP and Bosch lead in software solutions, while Chinese firms like Spreadtrum and MediaTek are making strides in chip design.
In the downstream system applications, companies like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple are leveraging sensor technology for innovative products, highlighting the vast potential of the sensor market in consumer electronics.
Overall, the sensor industry is continuously evolving, driven by technological breakthroughs, expanding applications, and stronger industry standards. As it matures, smart sensors are poised to play an even more critical role in shaping the future of the IoT.
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