Sensor Integration Challenges In Remote/harsh Environments

By Author: Satya K Vivek
Total Articles: 77
Comment this article

The deployment of sensors and their integration with systems from remote locations with different environmental conditions, is a challenging task. A long-term and durable solution requires both experience and expertise along with industry best practices.

Identification and usage of effective sensors in such cases require consideration of factors such as device durability, power consumption, connectivity, and reliability of data.

Environmental Stress
Environmental stress is one of the major obstacles in sensor integration. The sensors that are used in such environments must survive extreme temperatures, high humidity, saltwater immersion, extreme electromagnetic residues, vibration, shock, and much more. Rugged designs, enclosures, and specialised materials are thus imperative to ensure longevity and reliability of sensors. For example, arctic monitoring stations need thermal protection and auto-heating sensors.

Power Constraints
Another big constraint in this scenario is the power supply. Some remote places without access to traditional power, the sensors will be battery-powered, solar-powered, ...
... or use energy harvesting techniques such as vibration or thermoelectric generators. Such power sources should be designed to use relatively low amounts of energy and have operational cycles with long lifespan. To prolong battery life, power-efficient communication protocols such as LoRaWAN and NB-IoT, along with power-saving mechanisms such as duty cycling and sleep modes are used.

Data Transmission Challenges
Transmission of data and connectivity is critical. Satellite communication, mesh networking, and long-range radio systems are some of the solutions to cater to the problems. Where the connection is intermittent, data might be stored locally and sent to the server at defined intervals.

Sensor Calibration and Maintenance
Local data processing through edge computing is becoming more common and helps to limit connectivity and bandwidth consumption requirements. The use of sensor calibration and maintenance is challenging in such environments because of their inaccessibility leading to higher maintenance costs. Low-maintenance, self-calibrating, self-modifying (self-diagnosing) sensors are desirable. There is also physical redundancy within systems, where the failure of a sensor would not compromise the wider network.

Security Concerns
The relevance of security and robustness is very significant. Critical or military facilities may include sensitive installations, where security in the cyber and physical domains should be assured in harsh environments. The sensors should be tamper-proof, data should not be corrupted without authorisation, and there should not be unauthorised access. Typical strategies are usage of secure communication protocols and tamper-resistant hardware designs. Examples of successful deployments are oceanographic sensors to monitor sea temperatures, which operate in high-pressure environments and resist corrosion. In the same way, sensors installed to detect ground vibrations during earthquakes are built into the ground and are autonomous and usually has long life (may last for years).

Emerging Technologies
New technologies such as smart materials, enhanced coatings, and flexible electronics are new modalities through which sensor survivability is getting enhanced. There are many advantages of utilising AI-powered predictive maintenance and anomaly detection through remote monitoring of sensors remotely, which helps in reducing or avowing manual checks.

Conclusion
To conclude, sensor deployment in remote and severe environmental conditions is a multidisciplinary prospect, that unites engineering, intelligent energy usage, and robust data approaches. The objective is to ensure reliable and accurate operations even under intense physical, environmental, and operational circumstances.

Gadgeon is an end-to-end IT outsourcing services company which has established a solid reputation for its deep expertise in industrial sensor integration, product engineering and IoT connectivity services. We connect devices, operations, and processes to create business value, and revolutionize enterprises with the power of data. As a professional technology services firm , we successfully enabled the digital journey of customers.