Ellie Gabel, Associate Editor at Revolutionized, shares how smart sensors are shaping precision metrology systems
The Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) have seeped into every industry, advancing technological precision. Metrological systems can obtain accurate measurements by leveraging smart sensors in everything from coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) to interferometrics.
Smart metrology’s impact is extensive, extending into automotive and aerospace. How is this equipment applied in specific fields, such as energy, manufacturing, and health care applications and innovations?
Energy
Advanced metrology computes temperature or pressure changes in energy technologies, including pipes or solar panels. Governments need advanced metrology to power smart grids and protect them from cybersecurity threats. It will also better regulate measurements in retrofitted electrical delivery systems as the grid modernises.
Smart interferometrics and AI predict displacement shifts in energy infrastructure, suggesting maintenance before a pipeline could crack. Sensors customise and adjust flow control for oil and natural gas or grease lubrication in hydropower turbines.
The remote monitoring potential is invaluable to energy professionals, especially for hard-to-access assets. Underground power lines, primarily those underwater, will receive comprehensive oversight with 3D scanners and CMMs boosted by smart sensors. Experts easily gather geometrical data as energy systems undergo environmental stressors and fluctuate in usage.
Advanced metrology will also help in equipment manufacturing. Crafting a precise blade for a wind turbine is more straightforward, with sensors auto-aligning specifications with imported power plant standards.
Manufacturing
Industry 4.0 and 5.0 rely on smart sensors to gather data and improve collaborative abilities between machines and humans. This is critical for automation and quality control in manufacturing operations.
Equipment like optical measurement systems uses light and lasers to measure components as they pass through production lines. Sensors with computer vision utilise digital images to compile the foundations of quality-checking software, improving the consistency of output and reducing the possibility of defects.
The image’s data informs algorithms, educating technicians on inspecting and calibrating parts to make better products. Technicians must measure thicknesses with numbers down to at least 0.001 when using precision devices like micrometers to promise quality functionality and accuracy.
External programs and smart metrology systems are rising because manufacturers and supply chains know they close skill gaps. Having visual references informs product assessments and preventive maintenance. Operators become intimately familiar with machine specifications and can report their health promptly and consistently. This also reduces the chances of safety incidents when machines work more efficiently with fewer faults.
Healthcare
Advanced metrology provides numerous insights for histologists, imaging teams, surgeons and all medical professionals. Next-generation equipment, such as surface profilometers and computed tomography, benefits medical devices and research. It will also advance markets like wearables, taking accurate measurements for remote observation and spotting anomalies in biomarkers.
Microscopic blood or tissue samples are more straightforward to analyse with smart algorithms. Sensors deliver detailed results about textures and roughness, leading to exact diagnostics. The information may also fill knowledge gaps in research, providing nuance to fields with minimal studies by expanding the metadata.
Computed tomography scanners and X-rays require smart sensors to develop detailed images and models. Additionally, interoperability with other programs, like AI-informed software, could generate determinations about the pictures to curate targeted treatment plans based on patient history.
Medical facilities need these smart sensors to keep up with demand and the ever-changing landscape of disease development. The scaling potential of smart precision metrology is essential for faster patient care and research and development. The dimensional analysis is more meticulous, saving medical staff countless hours of labour and reducing human error.
Precise measurements
The rise of smart sensor technology in metrology empowers industries toward better automation, remote monitoring and data integration practices. Precision metrology will only advance by adopting these systems. Products will become more refined and durable, research will become increasingly holistic, and automation will be the new norm.
Previously, metrology only provided information about measurements in practice. Now, smart sensors make them capable of collecting data and integrating with other devices, pushing industries into the next era of digitalisation.
Author: Ellie Gabel, Associate Editor at Revolutionized
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.
