What is a Robot Sensor?
From RobotCurwikilums
A robot sensor is a device that senses the surrounding environment. That is, a sensor takes measurements of the surrounding environment and translates these measurements into useful information for the robot.
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What sensors do humans have?
The classic five human senses and the corresponding sensors are listed below.
Sight
The eye sensors "read" a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (the visible of course) and translates these measurements into electrical patterns. Our brains "speak and talk" electrical patterns. From our eye sensors, our brains "see" color, shade, texture, shape, movement, and depth.
Hearing
Our ears sensors "listen" for the varying air pressure impounding on our eardrums and, like all of our human sensors, converts the measured signals into electrical pusles. Our brains can interpret these pulse patterns into meaningful sound.
Taste and Smell
Chemical analysis sensors.
Touch
Pressure and temperature sensors.
Classes of Robot Sensors
There are many existing robot sensors and new ones are being designed every year. Some standard classes are summerized below.
Cameras
Cameras provide vision for robots. Cameras can be sorted into various subcategories: still or video cameras; black&white or multi-channel color; resolution; spectrum; etc.
IR Sensors
Infrared sensors are typically used to measure distance by detecting the infrared light radiated from objects.
Ultrasonic Sensors
Ultrasonic sensors use the techniques of sonar to measure objects.
Microphones
Microphones give a robot the ability to hear.
Location and Orientation Sensors
Odometry, speedometry, GPS, compasses and gryroscopes are types of sensors providing location and/or orientation information.
Haptic Sensors
Haptic sensors provide the sense of touch for a robot.
Virtual Sensors
Can a sensor be virtual, that is, not a physical thing? Well that may depend on your definition of a robot. If a robot can exist not only in the Wide World, but also in the World Wide Web, then a web bot sensor could be an intellegent HTML reader that generates relavent URL information. No physicallity here, unless you get down to electrons and holes.
