Micro- and Nanosensor Technology/ Trends in Sensor Markets

The economic realities of productivity, quality, and reliability for the industrial societies of the 21st century are placing major demands on existing manufacturing technologies. To meet both present and anticipated requirements, new and improved methods are needed. It is now recognized that these methods must be based on the powerful techniques employing computer- assisted information systems and production methods. To be effective, the measurement, electronics and control components, and sub-systems, in particular sensors and sensor systems, have to be developed in parallel as part of computer-controlled manufacturing systems. Full computer compatibility of all components and systems must be aimed for. This strategy will, however, not be easy to implement, as seen from previous experience. One major aspect of meeting future requirements will be to systematize sensor research and development. Intensive efforts to develop sensors with computer-compatible output signals began in the mid 1970’s; relatively late compared to computer and electronic measurement peripherals. The rapidity of the development in recent years has been quite remarkable but its dynamism is affected by the many positive and negative aspects of any rapidly emerging technology. The positive aspect is that the field is advancing as a result of the infusion of inventive and financial capital. The downside is that these investments are distributed over the broad field of measurement technology consisting of many individual topics, a wide range of devices, and a short period of development. As a consequence, it is not surprising that sensor science and technology still lacks systematics. For these reasons, it is not only the user who has difficulties in classifying the flood of emerging technological development and solutions, but also the research and development scientists and engineers. sensor systems, have to be developed in parallel as part of computer-controlled manufacturing systems. Full computer compatibility of all components and systems must be aimed for. This strategy will, however, not be easy to implement, as seen from previous experience. One major aspect of meeting future requirements will be to systematize sensor research and development. Intensive efforts to develop sensors with computer-compatible output signals began in the mid 1970’s; relatively late compared to computer and electronic measurement peripherals. The rapidity of the development in recent years has been quite remarkable but its dynamism is affected by the many positive and negative aspects of any rapidly emerging technology. The positive aspect is that the field is advancing as a result of the infusion of inventive and financial capital. The downside is that these investments are distributed over the broad field of measurement technology consisting of many individual topics, a wide range of devices, and a short period of development. As a consequence, it is not surprising that sensor science and technology still lacks systematics. For these reasons, it is not only the user who has difficulties in classifying the flood of emerging technological development and solutions, but also the research and development scientists and engineers.