Glossary · Sensors and measurement
Smart sensor
Also known as: Intelligent sensor
German: Intelligenter Sensor
In industrial automation, a smart sensor is a sensor with integrated electronics that processes its measurement, provides diagnostics and parameters and communicates digitally, for example via IO-Link, HART or a fieldbus.
- Sensors
In one sentence
A smart sensor processes its own measurement, provides diagnostics and parameters, and communicates digitally, e.g. via IO-Link or HART.
Example
A smart pressure sensor sends its value, its internal temperature and a warning about approaching overload to the PLC via IO-Link.
How it applies
- Engineering: Smart sensors add process data, diagnostics, identification and parameters. The integration effort shifts from wiring to configuration: device description files and parameter sets must be managed.
- Commissioning: Parameter sets can be stored in the controller or master and downloaded automatically when a sensor is replaced, which simplifies maintenance.
- Security: Configurable devices can be changed over the network. Access and change control should cover device parameters as well as controller programs.
- Documentation: Document parameter sets, firmware versions and the replacement procedure. Readers must know whether a replacement sensor is configured automatically or by hand.
Smart sensor vs. conventional sensor
A conventional sensor outputs a switching or analog signal. A smart sensor also delivers data about itself, such as Diagnostics, identification and status. The measured value itself is not automatically more accurate.