Zotera Sense™: Industrial Sensors & Actuators

Industrial applications are extremely diverse and the classification of IIoT sensors is extensive. The sensors can be loosely divided into three categories based on application scenarios.

• EQUIPMENT STATUS SENSING monitors the operating status of machinery and equipment, such as the rotation speed of motors, temperature, vibrations, pressure and other features of the machinery and equipment. Keeping track of their operating status, wear and tear and service lives.
• PRODUCTION SPACE SENSING of the “objects” encountered and processed by the machinery, as well as the surrounding spaces especially in industrial sites where increasing numbers of robots are being introduced. This is especially important for collaborative robots that work with people.
• ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING in strictly controlled environments where sudden and unchecked changes to the environment such as temperature, humidity, air pressure can have disastrous consequences.

The following type of sensors will play an invaluable role in the IIoT based on the above application scenarios.

• TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY SENSORS used to monitor equipment operating status, the production space and the operating environment.
• PRESSURE SENSORS used to measure the pressure of gases or liquids in the internal or external environment of the machinery and equipment.
• VIBRATION SENSORS monitor vibrations for the purpose of preventive maintenance.
• MOTION SENSORS measure information such as operating speed, acceleration, rotation angle, and displacement of equipment.
• FORCE SENSORS also known as weight sensors, are widely used in industrial robotic arms to measure the force in the grip or grasp of an object, thus helping to ensure the consistency of the manufacturing process.
• VISUAL SENSORS capture visual data with the use of machine vision (MV), the application of optical cameras.
• ULTRASONIC/MILLIMETER-WAVE SENSORS detect objects in dim lighting by emitting ultrasonic waves that monitor echoes reflected from the object.

Whether you are looking for a simple sensor solution or looking to sense lots of high-density data from high frequency measurements, Zotera is your partner.

Zotera sensors may be sold as standalone products or as a comprehensive turnkey solution.

COMPREHENSIVE TURN-KEY SOLUTIONS

Zotera delivers a turn-key measurement solution which not only contains the sensor hardware but more importantly a secure IIoT infrastructure that connects, assets, sensors, systems, and subsystems into single operational platforms.

It connects to plant-floor and field devices at the edge of the network and can push data from thousands of sensors across numerous sites through a central infrastructure. Advanced machine learning, predictive models, and analytics can then provide operational intelligence and inform control systems and machines.

For example, abnormal vibrations or high temperatures give early signs of machine failure due component imbalance, misalignment, wear or improper use of equipment. By bringing this data into an understandable and insightful dashboard we offer customers the ability to make critical operational decisions in real-time.