Robotics and Automation - Sensors and Motor Systems

Explore sensors and motor systems, including common sensor types and analog and digital interfaces, and learn how sensors convert events into digital signals for microprocessors.

Explore common sensor types in robotics and automation, including process, position, motion, chemical, and electrical sensors, and how they convert events into digital signals.

Learn how stepper, brushed, induction, and AC synchronous motors convert electrical energy to rotation, compare efficiency and maintenance, and decide which motor suits a given application.

This lecture explains why microprocessors need analog-to-digital conversion, the role of ADCs and amplifiers, and placing the ADC close to sensors to reduce noise, with 8–24 bit resolutions.

Discover how temperature sensors like thermocouples, RTDs, and infrared sensors work, their high-temperature applications, precision and stability of RTDs, and the need for amplifiers.

Understand thermocouples' two dissimilar metals, junction voltage, types and ranges, NIST ITS-90 tables, compensation and amplification for voltage-to-temperature conversion.

RTD sensors and platinum resistance temperature detectors, their linear resistance increase with temperature, class A and B tolerances, and datasheet coefficients for accurate measurement from -200 to 800 °C.

Explore thermistors, including NTC and PTC types, and RTDs as temperature sensors. Learn to model resistance with Steinhart–Hart equations and data-sheet constants in voltage divider and bridge circuits.

Compare thermocouples, RTDs, and thermistors for temperature sensing, noting thermocouples cover high ranges, RTDs offer precision, thermistors are fast and cheap, with calibration and current-source considerations.