Sensor Fusion Experts

Sensor Fusion – the Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts

In our modern world, there is no way around sensor technology. It is used in smartphones, cars and household appliances, but also in industrial machine vision operations, 3D optical-sensing technology, autonomous vehicles, obstacle detection and machine control as well as health, climate, infrastructure and other monitoring systems. As sensors become less expensive and further miniaturized, the number of possible applications skyrockets. With the rise of sensor fusion, technology is starting to mimic the sensory capabilities of human beings. 

To a device or machine, sensors are equivalent to our human senses. As such, they act as the eyes and ears of a system, detecting and responding to inputs from their environment such as light, sound, temperature, or motion. Following the principle of “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, sensor fusion technology combines these inputs, taking over the role of the brain.

Algorithms turn Data into Information

Using complex algorithms, sensor fusion technology can intelligently combine data from several source sensors and eliminate unreliable data. Deficiencies and inherent limitations in the individual sensors compensate and correct each other, resulting in more accuracy, dependability, availability, and a more complete overall assessment of the environment and data. For example, gyroscopes can exhibit offset drifts over time, which can be compensated for using a companion accelerometer. As a result, the overall performance and reliability of a system or application is greatly improved. Therefore, sensor fusion is often key in achieving many safety and reliability targets.  SF technology can help to improve object detection, recognition, localization as well as position tracking. It can perform optical measurements and enables the use of technologies such as predictive maintenance.