The second generation are solid-state sensors developed in the 1970s. These sensors are composed of solid-state components such as semiconductors, dielectrics, and magnetic materials, and are made using certain material properties.

　　Smart sensors are a new type of sensor with automatic state perception, information analysis and processing, and real-time communication exchange. They are the foundation for achieving intelligent manufacturing and the Internet of Things. Throughout the history of sensor development, smart sensors are emerging sensors, recently developed, and will continue to impact our lives in the future.

　　The development history of sensors can be roughly divided into three generations:

　　The first generation is the structural sensor, which uses changes in structural parameters to sense and convert signals.

　　The second generation are solid-state sensors developed in the 1970s. These sensors are composed of solid-state components such as semiconductors, dielectrics, and magnetic materials, and are made using certain material properties.

　　The third generation of sensors are intelligent sensors that began to develop gradually in 2000.

　　Origin: Born for spacecraft

　　But in fact, the concept of smart sensors was first proposed and formed in the 1970s by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the development of spacecraft.

　　In 1978, NASA first proposed the concept of a smart sensor. A large number of sensors on spacecraft continuously send data information such as temperature, position, speed, and attitude to the ground. It is difficult for a large computer to process such massive data simultaneously. To avoid data loss and reduce costs, intelligent sensors that can integrate sensors and computers are necessary.

　　At the same time, spacecraft using smart sensors were developed. A large number of sensors on the spacecraft continuously send temperature, position, speed, and other data information to the ground. Then, through the CPU computing processing unit decentralization technology, these massive data are processed simultaneously to achieve functions such as self-calibration, self-compensation, and remote communication. This is the earliest smart sensor. It processes and converts the output signal of the sensor, and then sends it to the microprocessor through the interface for calculation and processing.

　　Until the 1980s, sensors and microprocessors began to be combined. At that time, mainly using the microprocessor as the core, the sensor signal conditioning circuit, microcomputer memory, and interface circuit were integrated onto a single chip, giving the sensor a certain degree of artificial intelligence.

　　In 1983, Honeywell developed the world's first smart sensor, the ST3000 series smart pressure sensor.

　　In the 1990s, with the further improvement of intelligent measurement technology, sensors have realized miniaturization, integrated structure, array type, and digital type, and have multiple functions such as self-diagnosis, memory, and information processing, making operation simpler and use more convenient.

　　In 1993, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) proposed the "Smart Sensor Interface Standard".

　　Starting in 2000, with the large-scale use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology, it further promoted the development of sensors towards intelligence, miniaturization, and integration.

　　After 2010, with the rise of the Internet of Things and intelligent manufacturing, smart sensors have received widespread attention and rapid development.

　　Development: Landing on the Internet of Things, upgrading intelligent manufacturing

　　For the Internet of Things, the smart sensor itself is a typical Internet of Things smart terminal, or the current typical Internet of Things smart terminal is also a kind of smart sensor.

　　Compared with the single function of perception and output of ordinary sensors, and the shortcomings of being unable to determine failure in time, smart sensors themselves have functions such as data acquisition, data processing, data uploading, instruction execution, self-correction, and automatic compensation. At the same time, through auxiliary power supply methods such as batteries and solar energy, they can truly achieve unattended applications and complete the assigned monitoring mission around the clock.

　　Therefore, the intelligence of sensors is an inevitable trend under the concept of the Internet of Things, and the evolution of Internet of Things technology will give rise to more mature smart sensors. Today, smart sensors have been applied in various Internet of Things scenarios, including robots, VR/AR (virtual reality/augmented reality), drones, smart cities, smart homes, smart transportation, and smart healthcare.

　　In the industrial production process, various sensors are also needed to monitor and control various parameters in the production process, so that the equipment works in a normal state. It can be said that smart sensors are the core equipment for realizing intelligent manufacturing, and they directly affect the development process of intelligent manufacturing.

　　A necessary element of intelligent manufacturing is the automated flow of data, and the acquisition of on-site data is the first place where the flow begins. Whether it is data acquisition, storage, display, monitoring, or integration of other information, in the front-end perception field, smart sensors are the key to realizing intelligence. Without it, intelligent manufacturing cannot be discussed.

　　In the development process of intelligent manufacturing, smart sensors, as independent input devices for intelligent equipment to perceive external environmental information, need to take into account a series of tasks such as monitoring, measurement, and analysis and evaluation, playing a role in technological guidance and scenario upgrading for intelligent equipment applications.

　　Intelligent sensing technology is a leading technology for intelligent manufacturing and the Internet of Things. As a front-end perception tool, it is of great significance.

　　Future: Smart sensors become a key area for future enterprise layout

　　According to relevant data, the global sensor market size in 2015 was 99.5 billion yuan, of which smart sensors reached about 69.8 billion yuan, accounting for more than 70% of the market. In 2016, the global smart sensor market expanded again to about 170 billion yuan, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding double digits. The market size is expected to exceed 300 billion yuan in 2019.

　　At the same time, in China, the output value of domestic smart sensor enterprises in 2015 was about US\$1.4 billion, and it is expected to reach US\$3.7 billion in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 30%. In 2019, the market size of smart sensors in China is expected to expand to US\$13.7 billion, and the localization rate will increase from 13% in 2015 to 27%.

　　Therefore, from both the international and domestic markets, the development of smart sensors is currently in a rapid upward trend, and will be the mainstream of market development in the near future.

　　According to statistics on the products operated by listed companies, among the 25 listed sensor companies in China, 12 are engaged in smart sensors, nearly half of the companies are engaged in smart sensor research, indicating a broad market prospect.

　　As the foundation of information and data technology, smart sensors have now been integrated into our production and life. From robots to autonomous driving, from smartphones to smart homes, or the smart cities under construction, its presence can be seen everywhere. In the future, with the penetration of intelligent concepts into all walks of life, smart sensors will surely occupy "half of the country" in the overall market size.

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