Types of Sensors in Robotics

TYPES OF SENSORS IN
ROBOTICS
• SENSOR
• Sensors are devices with inbuilt mechanical, electrical, or chemical

features. Their functioning depends mainly on the transduction
principle. The principle is based on the conversion of energy from one
form to another.
ROBOT SENSORS
A Robot Sensor is used to measure the condition of the robot and its surrounding environment. Sensors pass electronic signals to robots for executing
desired tasks. Robots need suitable sensors that help them control themselves.
• WHY DO WE NEED ROBOT SENSORS?
• A Robot sensor ensures the smooth functioning of a robot. These

sensors help robots react to the commands received. These sensors
help create a feel-and-see feature in them, which provides the
effortless accomplishment of various tasks. Understanding the
environment can help a robot determine the temperature, object
proximity, sound, or chemical reaction and act accordingly.
• To achieve reliable solutions with efficient calibre, quick response,

accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, we need to incorporate many
sensors in robots. Let us take a look at various sensors and their uses.
Photo resistor
Photovoltaic Cells
• Sound Sensors:
• This sensor is used to recognize a sound and convert it into an

electrical signal. It is used in simple robots that can navigate with the
help of sound. How about a robot turning right on a single clap and
left on two claps? But, the implementation of sound sensors is not as
easy as that of light sensors. The voltage difference created by a
sound is minimal and must be intensified to make a measurable
change
Temperature Sensors:
Temperature sensors are widely used in robots working in

extreme weather conditions, like a desert or an ice glacier.
These sensors help robots adapt to the ambient temperature.
Tiny sensor ICs produce voltage differences to adjust to
temperature changes. Temperature sensors are used these days
extensively. E.g. TMP37, LM34, TMP35, LM35, TMP36.
• Contact Sensors:
• Contact sensors require physical contact to function. This creates a

trigger for the robot to act accordingly. A contact sensor is used in a
limit switch, button switch, or tactile bumper switch. They are widely
used for avoiding obstacles. When these sensor switches touch an
obstacle, it commands the robot to perform tasks like turning,
reversing, or simply stopping.
• The capacitive sensors are made to react to human touch. A simple

example of this is the touch screen of a smartphone. These are easy
to implement but come with a drawback. Without physical contact,
they do not work.
• Proximity Sensors:
• Proximity sensors can detect the presence of an object within

predefined distances without any physical contact. They utilize
magnetic fields to detect such objects. There is a wide range of
proximity sensors available in the market. Let us learn about the
popular ones.
• IR Transceivers:
• The IR transmits a beam LED in these sensors, and the light reflects if
interrupted by an obstacle. The receiver captures this. These sensors are
also used to measure distances.
• Ultrasonic:
• They create sound waves of high frequency. An echo confirms the presence
of an obstacle.
• Photoresistor:
• Widely used as light sensors, photoresistors can also be used as proximity
sensors due to their features. The amount of light generated differs when it
comes into association with an obstacle in proximity.
Ultrasonic Sensor
• Pressure Sensors:
• They are widely used to quantify pressure. Tactile is a robot sensor

that is used to measure force and pressure with the help of touch. It is
used to determine the grip strength of a robot arm and the pressure it
requires to hold an object.
• Distance Sensors:
• Most of the proximity sensors are extensively used as distance

sensors. These are also commonly referred to as Range Sensors. The
IR and ultrasonic are great assets to calculate distances accurately.
• Tilt Sensors:
• The tilt sensor helps to find if an object tilts accurately. In a typical tilt
sensor, a small amount of mercury is present in a glass bulb. If tilted,
the mercury automatically flows to one of the ends, turning the
switch off to indicate the tilt.
• Navigation Sensors:
• The Navigation sensors are also called positioning sensors. The position sensors in robots are used to detect
their positions. The commonly used position sensors are:
• GPS - It is beneficial for outdoor robots. It analyses the maps received from the GPS satellites.
• Localisation - This sensor helps a robot recognise elements externally and process the data to locate their
positions. It considers both natural and artificial landmarks to achieve the task.
• Compass - Like a magnetic compass, the digital version also helps a robot detect directions. They are very
cheap in comparison to GPS.
• Acceleration Sensors:
• This sensor helps to measure the tilt as well as the acceleration. The two primary
forces that can affect the functioning of an accelerometer are static forces and
dynamic forces.
• The static force is friction between two objects. This force is used to understand
how exactly a robot tilts.
•
• The dynamic force is the amount of force needed to move an object. Hence,
dynamic force calculates the required acceleration.
• Voltage Sensors:
• These sensors are mainly used to convert a lower voltage to a higher

one or vice versa. For example, take a simple Op-Amp that intakes a
low voltage, amplifies, and creates a higher output. They are also
used to determine the potential difference between two ends, like a
voltage comparator.
• Current Sensors:
• These sensors are made to monitor the flow of current in a circuit.

The output is either the same current or the corresponding voltage.
Most of the voltage outputs of current sensors are in the range of 0V
to 5V. The obtained current, if required, can be modified by a
microcontroller.
• CONCLUSION
• As of today, the availability of sensors used in robotics has increased extensively. You
can think about anything and incorporate the senses in your robot with the specifically
made sensors. Apart from all the mentioned robot sensors, Universal Robots is the
right choice in the Automation industry. They have several solutions that can cater to
your robotic incorporation. The sensors made by the ecosystems of the Universal
Robots partners from the UR+ can be used to address various problems. It all depends
on the type of robot sensor that will meet your requirement. Complex robots need
multiple sensors to accomplish the required tasks, to put it simply. At the same time, a
single study may need just one simple sensor. It is up to you to decide the best sensor
for accomplishing your work with accuracy, convenient operating features, great
functionality, easy implementation, and cost-effectiveness.
• What kind of sensors do industrial robots have?
• Ans: Industrial robots generally use light sensors, pressure sensors,

and temperature sensors.
• What sensors does a military robot have?
• Ans: Military robots are generally equipped with proximity sensors
to detect obstacles and location sensors.

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TYPES OF SENSORS IN

• Sensors are devices with inbuilt mechanical, electrical, or chemical

• A Robot sensor ensures the smooth functioning of a robot. These

• To achieve reliable solutions with efficient calibre, quick response,

• This sensor is used to recognize a sound and convert it into an

Temperature sensors are widely used in robots working in

• Contact sensors require physical contact to function. This creates a

• The capacitive sensors are made to react to human touch. A simple

• Proximity sensors can detect the presence of an object within

• They are widely used to quantify pressure. Tactile is a robot sensor

• Most of the proximity sensors are extensively used as distance

• These sensors are mainly used to convert a lower voltage to a higher

• These sensors are made to monitor the flow of current in a circuit.

• Ans: Industrial robots generally use light sensors, pressure sensors,

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