本報告已在2011年07月19日停止出版。
智慧感測器可以廣泛使用在汽車、航空•宇宙•防衛、產業用機械、醫療、甚至是國防安全領域上。由於智慧感測器具有能夠同時測定複雜現象的功能，因此深受各領域的青睞 。Technical Insight, Inc. 針對智慧感測器的技術，出版綜合報告書"Smart Sensors–A Technology Impact Assessment" 。
此報告書以製造可能性及機器功能等觀點，針對擁有商業潛力或者是尚處於開發階段的智慧感測器技術進行評價。此報告書的概略架構如下所示。
1．摘要
2．汽車領域
- 預防翻覆（警告駕駛員等）
- 空調（AC 功能改良等）
3．國家安全
- 智慧大樓（探測結構缺陷等）
- 放射線防禦（污染感測等）
4．產業用
- 製造業（不良振動感測等）
- 加工處理（無塵室的 HVAC 成本降低等）
- 熔接（熔接品質維持等）
5．宇宙與防衛
- 宇宙（感測器整合等）
- 砲彈（防止延燒等）
- 安全性（防止警報誤響等）
6．醫療
- 生物醫療（機器人等）
- 監控器（病患監視等）
- 研究開發用（分子診斷等）
7．專利與情報內容
8．2004 年科學技術獎
9．索引資料庫
Smart Sensors in Demand for Improved Industrial Operations
Smart sensors capability to have more intelligence built into them continues to drive their application in automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial, medical, and – most recently – homeland security applications. This, along with their ability to provide real-time measurement of the complex phenomena (such as assessing the clearance of a turbine blade tip and casing in an aircraft engine or the formation of a weld seam by a robotic welding machine) increases their utility, making them an attractive investment. Proprietary algorithms customized for specific applications analyze sensor data on key parameters to optimize machining, processing, and other operations to speed up throughput, reduce maintenance, minimize scrap, and improve the overall product or process quality.
This Frost & Sullivan research is an impact assessment of smart sensor technologies that are commercially available or still in the development phase. The study evaluates these applications that can take processing, manufacturing, and machine functions to the next level of competence.
Lucrative Market for Intelligent Sensors in HVAC Segment
Manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and semiconductor industries require heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to maintain the sanitary conditions of the laboratories that develop their advanced technology products. These closely monitored HVAC systems also need to comply with government regulations. Processors prefer to install HVAC control systems that incorporate smart sensors measuring key parameters in real time and transmitting the information to the control system that can optimize the clean room climate.
"A number of pharmaceuticals, biotech, and semiconductor makers are installing the Rosemount 951 Dry Gas Transmitter developed by Emerson Process Management of Chanhassen, (MN)", notes the analyst of this research. This smart sensor not only improves their HVAC validation processes but also provides stability of 0.125% of the upper range limit (URL) per year, which boosts the bottom line by extending calibration cycles and reducing overall maintenance costs.
Homeland Security Offers a Profitable Market for Smart Sensors
"Security sensors and devices have become of prime importance and are now commonly found in a variety of applications, from securing a luggage case or a nuclear plant", says the analyst. Smart sensor developers are now adapting their products to offer counter-terror capabilities. For instance, wireless communications vendors that design instruments to track cargo are integrating radiation detection sensors into their products that are expected to instantly detect any illicit radioactive material being smuggled in a container and immediately alert the authorities.
Smart sensor research and development is largely an international effort. Though companies and institutions in the United States lead the way, their overseas counterparts are also successfully designing and marketing smart sensors that run the gamut of commercial and government applications. These include technologically advanced European countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy, as well as leading Asian nations significantly Singapore and Taiwan, chiefly due to national initiatives in high technology development.
Table Of Contents
1. Executive Summary
- 1. Introduction and Description
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Description
- 2. Scope and Methodology
- 1. Scope
- 2. Methodology
- 3. Key Findings
2. Automotive
- 1. Rollover Prevention
- 1. Europe: Skid Assistance
- 2. North America: Alerting Drivers
- 2. Air Conditioning
- 1. Asia: Improving AC Efficiency
- 2. North America/Europe: Keep it Clean
- 3. Europe: Keeping Drivers Comfortable
3. Homeland Security
- 1. Smart Buildings
- 1. North America: Spotting Structural Damage
- 2. North America: Better Emergency Communications
- 2. Homeland Security Radiation Detection
- 1. North America: Tagging Threats
- 2. North America: Tracking Objects of Concern
- 3. Europe: Mobile Detection
- 4. North America: Mighty Mite
4. Industrial
- 1. Manufacturing
- 1. North America: Picking Up Bad Vibrations
- 2. Asia: Optical Displacement Measurement
- 2. Processing
- 1. North America: Cutting Clean Room HVAC Costs
- 2. Europe: Wireless Factory Sensors
- 3. Welding
- 1. Maintaining Weld Quality
- 2. Asia: Underwater Welder
5. Aerospace and Defense
- 1. Aerospace
- 1. North America: Six Sensors in One
- 2. North America: Powering Themselves
- 2. Artillery
- 1. North America: Eliminating Friendly Fire
- 2. Asia: Low Maintenance Wind Sensor
- 3. Security
- 1. North America: Reducing False Alarms
- 2. North America: Amphibious Chemical Nose
6. Medical
- 1. Biomedical
- 1. North America/Asia: Providing Robots with a Human Touch
- 2. North America: Of Mice and Men
- 2. Biomonitoring
- 1. North America: Wireless Knee Sensing
- 2. Europe/Asia: Hearing Cries for Help
- 3. Europe: Monitoring the Patient
- 3. Research
- 1. Europe: Keeping Hospitals Germ-Free
- 2. Asia: Studying Biomolecules
- 3. Asia : Sensing Bitterness
7. Contacts; Patents
- 1. Contacts
- 1. Contacts
- 2. Patents
- 1. Patents
8. Frost & Sullivan 2004 Science and Technology Awards
- 1. Technology Innovation
- 1. Award Description
- 2. Award Recipient
- 2. Technology Leadership
- 1. Award Description
- 2. Award Recipient
9. Decision Support Database
- 1. Decision Support Database
- 1. Global Machine Tool Production
- 2. Global Car Production
- 3. Global Crude Steel Production
- 4. Global Military Aircraft
