Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFTSensors play a crucial role in both the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). To keep pace with dynamic developments in this area, sensor nodes in the IIoT and IoT will need to become more powerful and cost-efficient. A key objective is to minimise energy consumption, enabling sensors to operate with minimal energy or even become energy self-sufficient. This is particularly important for ensuring sustainable and efficient networking in industrial applications.
Powerful and energy-efficient IIoT and IoT sensor nodes
IoT sensor node for detection of gamma radiation
Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT develop innovative concepts and validate them using experimental methods to integrate sensor nodes into hierarchical network topologies. Their work focuses on capturing physical parameters and processing the data using AI - either locally within the IoT sensor node, on-premises, or in the cloud.
A key aspect is the networking of these sensors. For IIoT applications, careful consideration must be given to the choice of wireless technologies. One promising approach is the use of meshed networks, where network nodes act as relay stations. This extends the range of technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which is crucial for sensor networks.
Typical application areas for our sensor node solutions include:
- Brownfield industrial environments, such as cleanrooms or legacy machinery without modern interfaces
- Smart home and building automation, for applications like air quality monitoring or energy optimization
- Connected environmental monitoring, using mobile or stationary measuring stations
- Wearables and portable sensor systems, for monitoring the condition of people or machines
- Connected devices in logistics, agriculture, or medical technology
With our sensor node solutions, we help companies and educational institutions digitize existing processes, develop new data-driven business models, and lay the foundation for Industry 4.0 applications.