8. Sensors

On the page 'Functions of Robots" you covered in detail Sensors. On this page, you are to pick one sensor and provide an overview of it and also how it has benefited society.

Chosen sensor: Collision Avoidance Sensor

Collision avoidance sensors provide analog proximity measurements for various collision occurring hazards. These are then used to prevent collision of automatic guided vehicles with either another vehicle or person moving on the road. A proximity sensor is mounted on the front or back of automatic guided vehicles. Collision avoidance sensors start working as soon as the vehicle engine is started and the vehicle starts moving. An anti collision sensor works on ultrasound technology. An ultrasound anti collision sensor mounted on the vehicle continuously sends and receives sound wave signals from and to the moving object. The sound waves are sent to detect any colliding object appearing in the way of the moving object. As soon as a colliding object is detected in the range of 3m, the driver is warned with an alert sound and the driver can take the appropriate action.

Collision avoidance sensors are used in many applications. They are widely used in automobiles, such as buses, cars, trucks, and hazardous machines. In addition, collision avoidance sensors are also used as a protective system in robot arms and docking bays, and as a safety system in automatic shelving. These sensors have made an important contribution to society as not only have they stopped numerous car accidents, but also the lives of pedestrians. This is evident through recent research conducted by Australian Bureau of Statistics, who state that over 30,000 potentially fatal car crashes are avoided each year due to the efficiency and effectiveness of collision avoidance sensors.

Collision avoidance sensors encompass a wide range of sensors, including parking and radar proximity sensors, which also benefit society. A parking sensor is used in automobiles for safely parking vehicles in the smallest possible space, saving both time and allowing parking efficiency. A parking sensor can also easily detect objects that are out of vision range, helping to avoid collisions. A radar proximity sensor is a speed sensor that is used to measure the speed of the vehicle, allowing the user to make an informed decision about whether they are going too fast, potentially avoiding crashes.