Sensors have always been a part of industrial automation and motion control systems. However, as the industrial IoT (IIoT) continues to make inroads into real-world applications, the spotlight shifts to the sensors used and the critical role they play in bettering performance. These sensors are the vital link between the physical system itself, collecting data from various machine processes, and the communication links that transmit data to the cloud or other control or monitoring facilities.
In fact, the rise of the IIoT is shaping trends in sensor design and implementation. Larger trends in automation including the digitalization of data and its use in more efficient control of processes including for predictive maintenance as well as remote monitoring are big drivers.
So what qualifies as an IIoT sensor? An IIoT sensor is a complex combination of hardware and software. More specifically, what sets IIoT sensors apart is that they have added functions and offer better connectivity.
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