A sensor (also called detector) is a converter that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated glass tube. A thermocouple converts temperature to an output voltage which can be read by a voltmeter. For accuracy, most sensors are calibrated against known standards.
All stories in Sensor
-
This century-old oak tree is live-tweeting climate change
This summer has proven a punishing reminder that climate change isn’t a far-off scenario, but one that’s happening right ...
-
How the hell does your phone's in-screen fingerprint scanner work?
If you've used an Android phone recently, you've probably come across the in-screen fingerprint scanner. But how does it ...
-
CHEAP: DAMN SON(Y), an A7 II camera for $898? Sign me the F up
Sony might have just announced its new and improved A7R IV camera, but its older sibling – the A7 II – is criminally ...
-
Animals and plants help engineers light up cities, detect explosives, and predict natural disasters
For decades, humans have modeled technology on observations of the natural world. But new discoveries about nature—and ...
-
CHEAP: Spit in the face of cleaning with 20% off iRobot's Roomba 690 vacuum
Why should you clean your house by yourself? Especially when there are robots that can do it for you. And especially when ...
-
MIT's new AI for robots can ‘feel’ an object just by seeing it
Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed a brand new AI that ...
-
Microsoft brings back the legendary IntelliMouse Explorer, now with a proper gaming sensor
When Microsoft brought back the IntelliMouse Explorer - one of the most iconic mice ever made - I lamented the fact the company ...
-
Leave your DSLR at home: The Huawei P30 Pro is the only camera a traveller needs
I used Huawei P30 Pro on a three-week trip in Europe, and I took some amazing shots through its four-camera system. It's ...
-
Freshness sensors for milk could dramatically reduce waste
Researchers have developed a new technique that can pinpoint, in real-time, the moment at which milk spoils inside a carton. ...
-
The best use of body hacking might be in hospitals
Reminders of the fragility of our bodies are unavoidable. You just have to hope that your next injury won’t be too painful ...
-
Wyze's new motion and contact sensor kit secures your home for just $20
We came away impressed when we reviewed Wyze's Cam Pan security camera last year. At just $30 a camera, it was almost disconcertingly ...
-
What's a time-of-flight (ToF) camera and why's it on my phone?
Ever wondered what a time-of-flight (ToF) camera is? And what it does? Well, worry no more, we've got the answers for you. ...
-
How this Australian bank tracked 17,000 kilos of almonds with the blockchain
Last year the Commonwealth Bank of Australia put a shipment of 17,000 kilos of almonds on the blockchain. But how exactly ...
-
Apple's new gas detection patent hints at an apocalypse-ready iPhone
If you've watched recent movies about apocalyptic conditions wiping humans off the face of the earth, you've probably come ...
-
Review: This simplehuman smart mirror magnifies my face without making me want to puke
I’m not a particularly vain person. Despite my interest in the beauty industry, I find eye shadow a bit terrifying. I'm ...
-
Biohackers enhance sex with this vibrating implant for men
Designed for men, the Lovetron9000 device will be inserted beneath the skin of the pelvis to enhance the shared experience ...
-
Qualcomm is using ultrasound tech for a better in-display fingerprint sensor
Last night, Qualcomm released a new in-display fingerprint sensor to make this technology mainstream. It's called qualcomm ...
-
Full moon patents: US Navy tube drones and Facebook doppelgängers
Ugh, the Gregorian calendar is so boring. That’s why we’re disrupting monthly series with a lunar cycle-based series ...
-
Why Indonesia’s tsunamis are so deadly, as explained by science
Indonesia's most recent earthquake reaching a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, has resulted in at least ...
-
This cheap bracelet could decrease your risk of developing skin cancer
Vipul Bansal didn't believe he was getting enough vitamin D. He's not alone. Although figures vary wildly, somewhere between ...
-
Everything Apple announced at its 2018 iPhone event
It's that time of year again. Apple CEO today Tim Cook took to the stage to announce all of the latest and greatest in Apple ...
-
The portable Nima Peanut Sensor stops nuts getting in your mouth
The Nima Peanut Sensor is a portable device for testing whether the food you're eating has peanuts in it, a perfect gadget ...
-
Environmental crime is a huge invisible problem — IoT will expose it
It’s a problem so big, that the police force of one of the world’s smallest countries is planning on reaching out to ...
