Scribd
Upload
18 views15 pages

Unit-II Sensors and Actuatars

Unit II discusses transducers, sensors, and actuators, focusing on their definitions, characteristics, classifications, and types. It details sensor characteristics such as accuracy, range, and sensitivity, as well as actuator types including electric, fluid power, and manual. The document provides a comprehensive overview of how sensors and actuators function and their applications in various systems.

Uploaded by

Sudhanshu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
18 views15 pages

Unit-II Sensors and Actuatars

Unit II discusses transducers, sensors, and actuators, focusing on their definitions, characteristics, classifications, and types. It details sensor characteristics such as accuracy, range, and sensitivity, as well as actuator types including electric, fluid power, and manual. The document provides a comprehensive overview of how sensors and actuators function and their applications in various systems.

Uploaded by

Sudhanshu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Unit II:

Transducers, Sensors and Actuators

Dr. Manisha Khurana

Department of Electronics
Acharya Narendra Dev College
University of Delhi
Unit II:
Transducers, Sensors and Actuators: Review of Transducers, Concept of
Sensing and Actuation, Sensor characteristics (static/dynamic), Sensor
classification (passive/active, analog/digital, scalar/vector), Actuator
classification (Electric/Fluid Power/ Linear Chain /Manual / Linear vs
Rotary)
Concept of Sensing
❖ Sensors are used for sensing things and devices etc. A device that provides
a usable output in response to a specified measurement.
❖ The sensor attains a physical parameter and converts it into a signal suitable
for processing (e.g. electrical, mechanical, optical) the characteristics of any
device or material to detect the presence of a particular physical quantity.
❖ The output of the sensor is a signal which is converted to a human-readable
form like changes in characteristics, changes in resistance, capacitance,
impedance, etc.
Sensor Characteristics

• Accuracy
• Range
• Resolution
• Precision
Static • Sensitivity
• Linearity
• Drift
• Repeatability

• Zero Order System


Dynamic • First Order System
• Second Order System
1. Static characteristics : It is about how the output of a sensor
changes in response to an input change after steady state condition.

• Accuracy: Accuracy is the capability of measuring instruments to give a


result close to the true value of the measured quantity. It measures errors. It is
measured by absolute and relative errors. Express the correctness of the
output compared to a higher prior system.
Absolute error=Measured value – True value
Relative error = Measured value/True value

• Range: Gives the highest and the lowest value of the physical quantity
within which the sensor can actually sense. Beyond these values, there is no
sense or no kind of response. e.g. RTD for measurement of temperature has a
range of -200`c to 800`c.

▪ Resolution: Resolution is an important specification for selection of


sensors. The higher the resolution, better the precision. When the accretion is
zero to, it is called the threshold. Provide the smallest changes in the input
that a sensor is able to sense.
• Precision: It is the capacity of a measuring instrument to give the same
reading when repetitively measuring the same quantity under the same
prescribed conditions. It implies agreement between successive readings,
NOT closeness to the true value. It is related to the variance of a set of
measurements. It is a necessary but not sufficient condition for accuracy.

• Sensitivity: Sensitivity indicates the ratio of incremental change in the


response of the system with respect to incremental change in input
parameters. It can be found from the slope of the output characteristics
curve of a sensor. It is the smallest amount of difference in quantity that
will change the instrument’s reading.

• Linearity: The deviation of the sensor value curve from a particularly


straight line. Linearity is determined by the calibration curve. The static
calibration curve plots the output amplitude versus the input amplitude
under static conditions. A curve’s slope resemblance to a straight line
describes linearity.
• Drift: The difference in the measurement of the sensor from a
specific reading when kept at that value for a long period of time.

• Repeatability: The deviation between measurements in a sequence


under the same conditions. The measurements have to be made under a
short enough time duration so as not to allow significant long-term
drift.
Dynamic Characteristics

Properties of the systems


• Zero-order system: The output shows a response to the input signal with no
delay. It does not include energy-storing elements.
Ex. potentiometer measure, linear and rotary displacements.

• First-order system: When the output approaches its final value gradually.
Consists of an energy storage and dissipation element.

• Second-order system: Complex output response. The output response of the


sensor oscillates before steady state.
Sensors Classifications

1. Passive & Active


2. Analog & Digital
3. Scalar & Vector

Passive Sensor– Can not independently sense the input. Ex- Accelerometer,
soil moisture, water level and temperature sensors.

Active Sensor– Independently sense the input. Example- Radar, sounder


and laser altimeter sensors.
Analog Sensor – The response or output of the sensor is some
continuous function of its input parameter. Ex- Temperature sensor,
LDR, analog pressure sensor and analog hall effect.
Digital sensor – Response in binary nature. Design to overcome the
disadvantages of analog sensors. Along with the analog sensor, it also
comprises extra electronics for bit conversion. Example – Passive
infrared (PIR) sensor and digital temperature sensor(DS1620).

Scalar sensor – Detects the input parameter only based on its


magnitude. The answer for the sensor is a function of magnitude
of some input parameter. Not affected by the direction of input
parameters. Example – temperature, gas, strain, color and smoke
sensor.
Vector sensor – The response of the sensor depends on the magnitude
of the direction and orientation of input parameter. Example –
Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic field and motion detector sensors.
Actuators

An actuator is a machine component or system that moves or controls


the mechanism of the system. Sensors in the device sense the
environment, then control signals are generated for the actuators
according to the actions needed to perform.
Types of Actuators

1. Electric Actuators
2. Fluid Power
3. Linear Chain
4. Manual
5. Linear Vs Rotary
Electric Actuators: Electric actuators are devices capable of creating
motion of a load, or an action that requires a force like clamping, making use
of an electric motor to create the force that is necessary.
Electric actuators convert electricity into kinetic energy either in a
rotary motion or a single linear direction. They automate manual valve
functions to improve efficiency and are a critical part of many applications
across several industries.

Fluid Power Actuators: Fluid power actuators receive fluid from a pump
(typically driven by an electric motor). After the fluid has been pressure,
flow, and directionally controlled, the actuator converts its energy into rotary
or linear motion to do useful work.
Fluid power is the use of fluids (liquid/air) under high pressure to
generate, control, and transmit power. Fluid power systems are used to
transmit power from a central source to industrial users over extended
geographic areas. Fluid power actuator consists of cylinder or motor that
uses fluid power to assist mechanical operation. The mechanical motion
gives an output in terms of linear, rotatory, or oscillatory motion.
Manual Actuators: A manual actuator is a mechanical device that allows for
manual control or operation of a system, typically by converting manual
input, such as turning a handle or pushing a lever, into mechanical motion.
These actuators are operated by human force rather than by an external
power source such as electricity or hydraulics.

Linear Vs Rotary Actuators: Linear actuators move in a straight line,


usually in a back and forth motion. In contrast, rotary actuators move in
angular degrees with reference to a mid-point, that is, along a circle.
- A linear actuator delivers a push-pull motion, while a rotary actuator helps
with a rolling motion.
- The output motion of linear actuators is in line with the output shaft. As for
the rotary actuators, the output motion is perpendicular to the shaft.
- Since obtaining linear motion is one of the commonest design functions,
linear actuators have a compact build and design.
- Rotary actuators follow an angular path, and the distance traveled can be
infinite and repeated for continuous spinning action. In contrast, linear
actuators only travel a limited distance and come to a standstill.
Linear Chain actuator: A linear chain actuator is a type of
mechanical actuator that converts rotary motion into linear motion. It
typically consists of a chain or belt that is driven by a motor and
wrapped around a series of pulleys or sprockets. As the motor turns, it
causes the chain to move, which in turn moves a load attached to the
chain in a linear direction.

You might also like