What are the most common types of IIoT sensors available?

If you ever wished you had eyes in the back of your head, you’ll appreciate the latest developments in sensor technology that allow you to have eyes in every corner of your facility. Dozens of sensors are already available to monitor, track, and report on critical aspects of your operations with more under development each day.

According to McKinsey, there's a minimum of $3.9 trillion of value waiting to be realized in Internet of Things related efficiency and productivity improvements in factories alone. Sensors play a big role in IIoT developments. Check out these top categories of sensors.

Temperature

Whether you want to track ambient temperature around a particular piece of equipment, need a hardwired option, or require a regular probe reading, wireless temperature sensors can record and send you readings at regular intervals.

Humidity

We all know how much humidity affects our human comfort levels. Some sensitive equipment must stay within certain humidity ranges to operate at peak efficiency. Sensors can measure relative humidity or even grains or actual weight of water in the air. Automated calibration delivers absolute humidity at certain temperatures and can alert maintenance teams when readings fall out of range.

Water

A wide variety of sensors help detect unwanted liquids in places around sensitive equipment, in plumbing systems, or in flood-prone areas. In addition, sensors can alert you to a lack of water or liquid in particular containers that require immediate refilling.

Security

Perhaps the well-known sensors are security-focused ones. These can detect motion, status of windows and doors, and location of valuable tools or equipment.

Gas

If you require the presence or absence of a particular type of gas, sensors can help you monitor these levels around the clock. Carbon monoxide detectors are a popular consumer example, setting off an alarm when this poisonous gas is present. In a factory, CO, CO2, particulate matter, and H2S can all be monitored with sensors.

Electrical, Light, Vibration

Sensors can be critical to measuring contact between wires as well as voltage and currents. In addition, the intensity or even presence of light can be monitored as well as the level of vibration on a particular piece of sensitive equipment.