Microsensors are tiny devices that collect and transmit environmental information, measuring biological, thermal, chemical and other data. They can be custom made for specific projects and have applications in scientific research, quality control, pollution monitoring, and medical care. Microsensors can connect to an array of sensors and wirelessly interface with processors. They require a power source to communicate, but their power requirements may be very low. Ongoing research is taking place in public and private laboratories worldwide.
A microsensor is an extremely small device that can collect and transmit environmental information. Such devices can measure biological, thermal, chemical and other data and send it to a processor. The processor then converts the information into a meaningful form for people to access it for a variety of uses. Scientific equipment manufacturers may produce microsensors as part of their range. They can also be custom made for specific projects.
Some microsensors operate on the nanoscale, which means you may need a microscope to see them. In scientific research, the devices are employed in everything from cell biology to environmental monitoring. They can connect to an array of sensors to collect a variety of data and can wirelessly interface with processors for ease of use. Wireless microsensor systems need a power source to communicate, but their power requirements may be very low.
The way microsensors are designed must include a way to collect the desired information, which may depend on how the device will be used. Sensors can measure mechanical phenomena such as weight or movement along with the presence of specific chemical traces in the environment. These can be limited to biological or radiological events for some sensor types. Temperature, light levels and other properties can also be measured.
The pickup feeds the information to the sensor, which feeds it to the processor. Processors may include a buffer to store information, allowing them to burst to another device. Some microsensor modules offer real-time reading capabilities, which can be useful for tasks such as monitoring cells in culture. Others store data that needs to be downloaded when researchers want to interact with it.
Besides being useful for research, these devices also have a number of commercial applications. Extremely small and inexpensive sensors can be useful for quality control, pollution monitoring and similar tasks. For example, microsensors in dairy product packaging could send an alert if they get too hot, indicating that they have been stored in unsafe conditions. Similarly, microsensors have a role to play in medical care, where they could be attached to the skin, injected or ingested to gather information about patients.
Ongoing research into microsensor applications is taking place at public and private laboratories in many regions of the world. People interested in this technology can find jobs in different industries. A specialist degree may be required to work in prestigious laboratories.
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