SIMILARITIES AND

DIFFERENCES OF
ANALOG AND DIGITAL
SENSORS
By Gab, Stephanie and Sam
What is Sensors
Sensors play a significant role in any robot,
whether it is autonomous, semi-autonomous or
remotely-controlled by a human. These sensors help
a robot communicate with its external world, or
control its own internal system. Before we
understand the different sensors, we will understand
what “senses” are and what they do.
Example of Sensors
Infrared Sensor
A sense with regards to living organisms is the capability to
perceive its environment. The five Aristotelian senses of human
being are Sight, Hearing, Touch, Smell and Taste. More and
more research in this field led to a belief that there are more than
five senses. Few argue that there are almost 21 sensors in a
human body which includes thermoception (sensing temperature
variation), equilibrioception (sense to maintain balance),
nociception (pain sensors), kinesthesioception(sensing
acceleration) etc., These senses help us sense our environment
and act accordingly.
Example of Infrared Sensor

IR Receiver
 Widescreen Graphics
With this infrared sensor, sometimes are
Disadvantages difficult to implement these biological
Of
sensors instead, robots use
electromechanical sensors that measure a
Infrared physical quantity and convert it into
Sensors signals that can be read, monitored and
analyzed for further action.
Video for Sensors

Different_Types_of_Sensors_and_their_Applications_-_A_Galco_TV_Tech_Tip(720p).mp4
Types of Sensors

Analog Sensors
Analog Sensors
Analog Sensors output a change
in electrical property to signify a
change in its environment. The
change can be a variation in
Voltage, Current, Resistance,
Charge and Capacitance. Sensor
circuits are designed to monitor
these changes and provide a
voltage difference.
Analog Sensors
This voltage difference, if required can be converted into a digital value and
processed further. All modern microcontrollers have Analog to Digital
converter circuitry built-in. For example, if we consider a Photo-resistor, the
resistance in a Photo-resistor changes with the amount of light falling on it. The
Photo-resistor circuitry creates a voltage difference based on the change in
resistance and an analog signal is fed into the microcontroller. This analog
signal, if required can be further converted into a digital value and processed as
per the requirement (For further information, suggest you to read Analog to
digital Conversion). Since most microcontrollers work within the 0V to +5V
range, the sensor circuitry is designed such that it generates a continuous signal
between 0 Volts to +5 Volts as an output.
Chart of Analog Sensors
Analog Sensors

Types of Analog Sensors

 Light Sensors
A type of sensor that is used to detect light and create a voltage difference. The
two main light sensors generally used in robots are Photo-resistor and
Photovoltaic cells. Other kinds of light sensors like Phototubes,
Phototransistors, CCD’s etc. are rarely used. Photo-resistor is a type of resistor
whose resistance varies with change in light intensity; more light leads to less
resistance and less light leads to more resistance. These inexpensive sensors
can be easily implemented in most light dependant robots. Photovoltaic cells
convert solar radiation into electrical energy. This is especially helpful if you
are planning to build a solar robot. Although photovoltaic cell is considered as
an energy source, an intelligent implementation combined with transistors and
capacitors can convert this into a sensor.
Example of Light Sensors
Examples:
• Colorpal
Sensors
• Light to
Frequency
Converter
 Contact Sensors
Contact sensors are those which require physical contact against other objects to
trigger. A push button switch, limit switch or tactile bumper switch are all examples
of contact sensors. Limit Switch. These sensors are mostly used for obstacle
avoidance robots. When these switches hit an obstacle, it triggers the robot to do a
task, which can be reversing, turning, switching on a LED, Stopping etc. There are
also capacitive contact sensors which react only to human touch (Not sure if they
react to animals touch). Touch screen Smart phones available these days used
capacitive touch sensors (Not to be confused with older stylus based models).
Contact Sensors can be easily implemented, but the drawback is that they require
physical contact. In other words, your robot will not turn until it hits an object. A
better alternative is to use a proximity sensor.
Example of Contact Sensors
 Proximity Sensors
This is a type of sensor which can detect the presence of a nearby
object within a given distance, without any physical contact. The
working principle of a Proximity sensor is simple. A transmitter
transmits an electromagnetic radiation or creates an electrostatic field
and a receiver receives and analyzes the return signal for interruptions.
There are different types of Proximity sensors and we will discuss
only a few of them which are generally used in robots. Infrared (IR)
Transceivers: An IR LED transmits a beam of IR light and if it finds
an obstacle, the light is simply reflected back which is captured by an
IR receiver. Few IR transceivers can also be used for distance
Example of Proximity Sensors
Examples:
• Festo Model
M18 Connector
Proximoity
Sensors
Sound Sensors
As the name suggests, this sensor (generally a microphone) detects
sound and returns a voltage proportional to the sound level. A
simple robot can be designed to navigate based on the sound it
receives. Imagine a robot which turns right for one clap and turns
left for two claps. Complex robots can use the same microphone
for speech and voice recognition. Implementing sound sensors is
not as easy as light sensors because Sound sensors generate a very
small voltage difference which should be amplified to generate
measurable voltage change.
Example of Sound Sensors

Microphone Voice Sound Detector

INTRODUCTION_OF_SOUND_SENSOR_TECHB(720p).mp4
Types of Sensors

Digital Sensors
Digital Sensors
Unlike Analog sensors, digital sensors produce discrete digital pulses for
a change in its environment. A push button switch is a very good example
of a digital sensor. The output of this sensor can be either “ON” or
“OFF”, i.e. it can be either 1 or 0. There are other digital sensors which
output a series of digital pulses, or binary values. For example, a sensor
can output a 10 bit binary value 0000000000 to 1111111111 (decimal
equivalent of 0 to 1023) to signify a change. This means a sensor can
produce one of 1024 values to suggest a change in its environment.
Digital Sensors
It is important to realize this distinction between analog
and digital outputs before selecting a sensor for your
robot. Digital signals may seem easy to obtain and
process, but involves a lot of calculations. The timer
control in a microcontroller in itself is a nightmare. On
the other hand, analog signals can be directly fed into a
microcontroller, converted into a digital value using its
built-in ADC and the information can be used as required.
 Click icon to add picture

Digital Sensors

Types of Digital Sensors

Types of Digital Sensors
Types of Digital Sensors
Digital sensors are also classified as many types and
few of those to be described as follows:

Digital accelerometers
Digital temperature sensor
Digital Accelerometers
Digital accelerometers generally make use of PWM (pulse
width modulation) to generate output
pulses. It corresponds that the output is a square wave of
corresponding frequency and the time
for which the voltage is high is linear to the amount of time
taken for acceleration.
When a BASIC stamp or any kind of microcontroller is used
as digital inputs, then the digital
accelerometer is the preferred one to generate output.
 Features of Digital Accelerometers
• The data rates can be selected by users
• Operates using FIFO/FILO memory buffers
• One can achieve digital high-pass filter outputs
• Minimal power consumption
• Solderability can be done without using lead
• Exceptional temperature performance
• Extensive shock survivability
• Factory programmable offset and compassion
• Applications
• Implemented in mobile phones and other internet equipment’s
• Used in-game controllers and computer components
• Used in the health care industry
• Also implemented in personal navigation equipment
Example of Digital Accelerometers
Digital Temperature Sensors
These are silicon dependent temperature sensors where
the output is the accurate digital representation of the
measured temperatures. These devices are designed to
read the temperature ranges from 00C to that of 700C
and with this, an output of nearly ±0.50C accurateness
can be achieved. Whereas, packaged components are
designed for extensive ranges which means for -550C to
1750C, the accuracy is ±10C and for -1300C to 1500C,
the accuracy is ±1.50C.
Example of Digital Temperature Sensors
Video for Temperature Sensors

Types_of_Temperature_Sensors_-_Temperature_Sensor_Types(720p).mp4
Chart for Digital Sensors
Thank You for
Listening and
Cooperating