The 5 Superpowers of Sensors
Sensors Make Sense
Outside of an EKG machine, these are the most helpful (and potentially life-saving) beeps you'll hear: your vehicle's sensor alerts.
Modern-day passenger vehicles usually have them built-in, but bigger, older commercial vehicles tend to lack the technology, and it can cost them in the form of property or driver damage.
How do proximity sensors work?
Ultrasonic proximity sensors use high-frequency sound waves to detect and alarm drivers about potential obstacles.
These HF sound waves lend a hand by gauging the distances of stationary objects/animals/people in your perimeter, then alerting you when the distance shrinks down to a specific threshold.
Let’s take a detailed look at the 5 superpowers of sensors:
- Power of Perception
It's like a 6th sense. Proximity sensors have made drivers more intelligent by giving them the power to "see" the world around them without actually seeing it--and now there are commercial sensor systems that have up to 16 sensors, so NO blind spot stands a chance!
- Adaptability
Technology has made sensors extremely adaptable and integrative. One benefit of this is that they can be easily paired with backup cameras for vans and other vehicles.
With this integration, you don't just receive an alarm about approaching or stationary objects but also visualize the space around your vehicle. Now, you can fully assess the size of the parking space before having to worry about bumping into anything.
- Durability
One of the top benefits of proximity sensors is that they are designed to be used in tough weather conditions, be it extreme heat or cold. Quality sensors can function in temperatures ranging from -40 to 200°C and are even resistant to chemicals, contaminants, oils, and corrosive metals.
- X-Ray & Night Vision
With a sensor installed in your car, you never have to worry about driving in dim light. Since they work on sound and electromagnetic waves, the lighting in the surrounding environment has no impact on their function.
These sensors are also unaffected by the color or transparency of the approaching object, any changes in the surface visuals, or physical changes in the surroundings.
- Speedy Reflexes
In extreme cases, getting a timely alert for an object in your trajectory can be the difference between life and death. The response time of a sensor means the time difference between when an object moves into its range and the time that it takes to output an alert signal for the driver. Proximity sensors are extremely accurate, have rapid response times, and help drivers react quickly to dangerous situations.
Summing up
When it comes to commercial vehicles with large blind spots and limited visibility, our superpowered sensors have helped prevent property and personnel damage for thousands of fleets on the road!
Get the inside scoop on our super-powered sensors here.
How to choose the right proximity sensor?
Now that you know the applications and benefits of proximity sensors, learn how to choose the best option for yourself.
Our experts have decoded the things that you need to consider before buying a sensor:
- It should be optimally sized and fit into the application location.
- How accurate is it and how fast does it alert the driver about a possible danger on the road or while parking?
- Can it be integrated with other driver assistance devices such as backup cameras for vans?
- How resistant is it to the environment? Is it affected by oil, dust, or water which may cause sensing failure?
- Does it fit into your budget?
