What are the temperature sensors?

A temperature sensor is a device, typically, a thermocouple or resistance

temperature detector, that provides temperature measurement in a
readable form through an electrical signal.
A thermometer is the most basic form of a temperature meter that is used
to measure the degree of hotness and coolness.
Temperature meters are used in the geotechnical field to monitor concrete,
structures, soil, water, bridges, etc. for structural changes in due to
seasonal variations.
A thermocouple (T/C) is made from two dissimilar metals that generate an
electrical voltage in direct proportion to the change in temperature. An RTD
(Resistance Temperature Detector) is a variable resistor that changes its
electrical resistance in direct proportion to the change in the temperature in
a precise, repeatable, and nearly linear manner.
What do temperature sensors do?
A temperature sensor is a device that is designed to measure the degree of
hotness or coolness in an object. The working of a temperature meter
depends upon the voltage across the diode. The temperature change is
directly proportional to the diode’s resistance. The cooler the temperature,
the lesser will be the resistance, and vice-versa.

The resistance across the diode is measured and converted into readable
units of temperature (Fahrenheit, Celsius, Centigrade, etc.) and, displayed
in numeric form over readout units. In the geotechnical monitoring field,
these temperature sensors are used to measure the internal temperature of
structures like bridges, dams, buildings, power plants, etc.

Where is the temperature sensor used?

The temperature sensor’s applications include:

1. The temperature sensors are used for verifying design assumptions

that will promote safer and more economical design and construction.
2. They are used to measure the temperature rise during the process of
curing concrete.
3. They can measure rock temperatures near liquid gas storage tanks
and ground freezing operations.
4. Temperature sensors can also measure water temperatures in
reservoirs and boreholes.
5. It can be used to interpret temperature-related stress and volume
changes in dams.
6. They can also be used to study the temperature effect on other
installed instruments.
What is a humidity sensor?

A humidity sensor is a device that measures the amount of water

vapor present in the air or other gases.

How does a humidity sensor work?

There are different types of humidity sensors, but most of them

work by measuring changes in electrical resistance, capacitance, or
temperature caused by moisture in the air.

Humidity Sensor-based Projects Ideas

Fridge Temperature and Humidity Indicator

The small sniffer device, described in this project, picks up

temperature and humidity from inside the fridge and transmits on
an RF link to a nearby receiver unit. The receiver unit checks the
received code, identifies the right sniffer device and displays live
temperature and humidity.

Why do we need it you say?

We can measure temperature and humidity inside the fridge using a
normal temperature-humidity indicator but relative humidity could
be inaccurate in that case.

Humidity And Temperature monitoring Using Arduino

In this article, humidity and temperature information from the DHT-

11 sensor is analysed graphically on ThingSpeak platform using
Arduino MCU and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module.

Humidity Indicator and Controller

Presented here is a simple humidity indicator and controller. In

industries such as textile, the change in moisture content has a
direct impact on the properties of fabric, such as tensile strength,
elasticity, fibre diameter and friction. Therefore the process is
executed within a permissible humidity environment only.

Depending on the type of fabric and the process being undertaken,

the requirement of particular humidity level varies. Cotton and linen
have to be processed at very high relative humidity (RH) levels of
around 70-80 percent since they are very brittle. Wool requires RH
levels of around 65 percent. Silk needs to be processed between 65
and 70 percent.

With this circuit, you can not only monitor humidity levels between
30 and 90 percent RH but also control it.
IoT-Enabled Air Pollution Meter With Digital
Dashboard On Smartphone

Presented here is an IoT enabled air pollution meter to monitor air

quality on your smartphone using Blynk application
and Arduino board. Blynk is an Internet of Things (IoT) platform to
control Arduino, Raspberry Pi and the like over the Internet. In this
project Blynk provides a digital dashboard on your smartphone that
displays real-time air quality readings for the immediate
surroundings.

Soil Moisture Sensor

 The fork-shaped probe with two exposed conductors acts as a
variable resistor (similar to a potentiometer) whose resistance varies
with the soil’s moisture content. This resistance varies inversely with
soil moisture:

 The more water in the soil, the better the conductivity and the lower
the resistance.

 The less water in the soil, the lower the conductivity and thus the
higher the resistance.

The sensor produces an output voltage according to the resistance, which

by measuring we can determine the soil moisture level.
What is an IR Sensor?
IR sensor is an electronic device, that emits the light in order to sense some object of
the surroundings. An IR sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as detects
the motion. Usually, in the infrared spectrum, all the objects radiate some form of
thermal radiation. These types of radiations are invisible to our eyes, but infrared
sensor can detect these radiations.

The emitter is simply an IR LED (Light Emitting Diode) and the detector is simply an
IR photodiode . Photodiode is sensitive to IR light of the same wavelength which is
emitted by the IR LED. When IR light falls on the photodiode, the resistances and the
output voltages will change in proportion to the magnitude of the IR light received.

There are five basic elements used in a typical infrared detection system: an infrared
source, a transmission medium, optical component, infrared detectors or receivers
and signal processing. Infrared lasers and Infrared LED’s of specific wavelength used
as infrared sources.

The three main types of media used for infrared transmission are vacuum,
atmosphere and optical fibers. Optical components are used to focus the infrared
radiation or to limit the spectral response.

Applications of IR Sensor
IR sensors use in various projects and also in various electronic devices. They all are
as follow,

Night Vision Devices

An Infrared technology implemented in night vision equipment if there is not

enough visible light available to see unaided. Night vision devices convert ambient
photons of light into electrons and then amplify them using a chemical and electrical
process before finally converting them back into visible light.

Radiation Thermometers

IR sensos uses in radiation thermometers to measure the temperature depend upon

the temperature and the material of the object and these thermometers have some of
the following features

 Measurement without direct contact with the object

 Faster response
 Easy pattern measurements
Infrared Tracking
An Infrared tracking or Infrared homing, is a missile guidance system which operates
using the infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted from a target to track it.

IR Imaging Devices

IR image device is one of the major applications of IR waves, primarily by virtue of its
property that is not visible. It uses for thermal imagers, night vision devices etc.

Other Key Application Areas

Other key application areas that use infrared sensors include:

 Climatology
 Meteorology
 Photobiomodulation
 Flame Monitors
 Gas detectors
 Water analysis
 Moisture Analyzers
 Anesthesiology testing
 Petroleum exploration
 Rail safety
 Gas Analyzers
What is a PIR Sensor?

A passive
infrared sensor is an electronic sensor that measures infrared light radiating from
objects. PIR sensors mostly used in PIR-based motion detectors. Also, it used in
security alarms and automatic lighting applications. The below image shows a typical
pin configuration of the PIR sensor, which is quite simple to understand the pinouts.
The PIR sensor consist of 3 pins,
  Pin1 corresponds to the drain terminal of the device, which connected to the
positive supply 5V DC.

 Pin2 corresponds to the source terminal of the device, which connects to the
ground terminal via a 100K or 47K resistor. The Pin2 is the output pin of the
sensor. The pin 2 of the sensor carries the detected IR signal to an amplifier
from the

 Pin3 of the sensor connected to the ground.

What does a PIR Sensor detect?

Generally, PIR sensor can detect animal/human movement in a requirement range.
PIR is made of a pyroelectric sensor, which is able to detect different levels of infrared
radiation. The detector itself does not emit any energy but passively receives it.

It detects infrared radiation from the environment. Once there is infrared radiation
from the human body particle with temperature, focusing on the optical system
causes the pyroelectric device to generate a sudden electrical signal.

Simply, when a human body or any animal passes by, then it intercepts the first slot of
the PIR sensor. This causes a positive differential change between the two bisects.
When a human body leaves the sensing area,the sensor generates a negative
differential change between the two bisects.
NodeMCU

With the NodeMCU-ESP32, comfortable prototyping is possible with simple

programming via Luascript or the Arduino IDE and the breadboard-compatible
design. This board has 2.4 GHz dual-mode Wifi and a BT wireless connection.
In addition, a 512 KB SRAM and a 4MB flash memory are integrated into the
microcontroller development board. The board has 21 pins for interface connection,
including I2C, SPI, UART, DAC, and ADC.
ESP32-CAM PIR Motion Detector with Photo Capture (saves to
microSD card)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBoM_Uoq_nA

Smart Lighting System - IoT Project using Blynk App

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJLXbNVWWI

Develop an IoT based intruder detection and alert system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9gmt5y2mFQ

How to make car parking system using arduino | Automatic car

parking system | Arduino Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P64CoHCSD6w

Weather Monitoring System with ESP8266 & Blynk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tZxQ8KbBLA

How to Monitor Air Quality using Arduino IOT Cloud and

ESP8266
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuitQkJwBm4

IoT Based Forest Fire Detection System

As shown in the schematic block diagram below, the project consists
of Flame sensor, Arduino Nano & SIM800L GSM/GPRS module as its
primary components. The fire can be detected by the flame sensor
which gives a digital output that corresponds to the Fire status and
is received by the Arduino Nano.