IoT (Internet of Things) Basic | Chapter 3: Sensors, Actuators, and Embedded Systems by Prakhar Chauhan | Learn Smarter
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Chapter 3: Sensors, Actuators, and Embedded Systems

Chapter 3: Sensors, Actuators, and Embedded Systems

The chapter details the critical hardware components required for building Internet of Things (IoT) systems, focusing on sensors, actuators, and embedded systems. It elucidates the functionality and applications of various types of sensors and actuators, while also providing insight into microcontrollers and embedded boards that facilitate these components' integration. Furthermore, the chapter emphasizes the importance of interfacing techniques and communication methods involved in IoT applications.

34 sections

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  1. 3
    Sensors, Actuators, And Embedded Systems

    This section covers the essential components of IoT devices: sensors,...

  2. 3.1
    Types Of Sensors And Their Functions

    This section discusses various types of sensors used in IoT systems,...

  3. 3.1.1
    Temperature Sensors

    Temperature sensors measure ambient or object temperature and are crucial...

  4. 3.1.2
    Humidity Sensors

    Humidity sensors are devices that detect moisture levels in the air,...

  5. 3.1.3
    Motion Sensors

    Motion sensors detect movement or acceleration in their environment, playing...

  6. 3.1.4
    Light Sensors

    Light sensors measure light intensity and are essential components in...

  7. 3.1.5
    Gas And Air Quality Sensors

    Gas and air quality sensors are critical devices in IoT applications that...

  8. 3.1.6
    Proximity Sensors

    Proximity sensors detect nearby objects without physical contact, providing...

  9. 3.1.7
    Pressure And Force Sensors

    Pressure and force sensors measure applied force or pressure in various applications.

  10. 3.2
    Commonly Used Actuators

    This section discusses the various types of actuators used in IoT systems,...

  11. 3.2.1

    This section introduces motors as critical actuators in IoT systems,...

  12. 3.2.2

    This section discusses relays in IoT, including their function as...

  13. 3.2.3
    Buzzers And Alarms

    Buzzers and alarms are key components of IoT systems that generate sound...

  14. 3.2.4
    Leds And Displays

    This section discusses LEDs and displays as output components in IoT...

  15. 3.2.5
    Valves And Solenoids

    This section provides an overview of valves and solenoids as critical...

  16. 3.3
    Microcontrollers And Embedded Boards

    This section focuses on microcontrollers and embedded boards, essential...

  17. 3.3.1
    Microcontrollers

    Microcontrollers are integral components of IoT devices, acting as...

  18. 3.3.2
    Embedded Boards

    Embedded boards are essential components of IoT systems, integrating...

  19. 3.3.2.1

    This section introduces the Arduino as an open-source electronics platform,...

  20. 3.3.2.2
    Raspberry Pi

    Raspberry Pi is a versatile single-board computer used for more powerful IoT...

  21. 3.3.2.3
    Esp32 / Esp8266

    This section discusses the ESP32 and ESP8266 microcontrollers as...

  22. 3.4
    Interfacing Sensors With Microcontrollers

    This section describes how to connect sensors to microcontrollers, detailing...

  23. 3.4.1

    The Basic Steps section outlines the essential procedures for interfacing...

  24. 3.4.2
    Communication Methods

    This section covers the various communication methods used in connecting...

  25. 3.4.1.1
    Step 1: Connect Power Supply

    This section emphasizes the importance of connecting the power supply to...

  26. 3.4.1.2
    Step 2: Data Pins

    This section focuses on data pins, essential for connecting sensors and...

  27. 3.4.1.3
    Step 3: Code Initialization

    Code initialization is a foundational step that involves writing software to...

  28. 3.4.1.4
    Step 4: Testing

    In this section, we delve into the role of sensors and actuators in IoT...

  29. 3.4.2.1
    Digital Input/output

    This section explores digital inputs and outputs in IoT systems, focusing on...

  30. 3.4.2.2
    Analog Input

    This section introduces analog input as a means of reading varying voltage...

  31. 3.4.2.3

    I2C is a two-wire communication protocol used for connecting sensors and...

  32. 3.4.2.4

    The SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) is a high-speed interface used to...

  33. 3.4.2.5

    This section covers UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) as a...

  34. 3.5

    This section covers the roles and functions of sensors, actuators, and...

What we have learnt

  • Sensors detect environmental conditions and convert them into electrical signals for interpretation by microcontrollers.
  • Actuators execute physical actions based on commands from microcontrollers, enabling interaction with the environment.
  • Microcontrollers, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, serve as the central processing units that coordinate sensor data and actuator commands.

Key Concepts

-- Sensors
Devices that detect and measure physical quantities from the environment, converting them into electrical signals for processing.
-- Actuators
Components that convert electrical signals into physical actions, enabling responses based on sensor data.
-- Microcontrollers
Compact integrated circuits designed for embedded applications, accounting for data processing, control logic, and sensor integration.
-- Interfacing
The process of connecting sensors to microcontrollers for data collection and application execution.
-- Communication Methods
Varied techniques like digital input/output and communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART) for data exchange between sensors and microcontrollers.

Additional Learning Materials

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