By Morrie Goldman
Over time, sensors have morphed from simple analog and mechanical constructs to chip-based digital devices that connect to a machine to monitor the machine’s health as well as environmental conditions. Similarly, sensor fusion — multiple types of sensors working together to solve a problem — has combined the threads of many other technologies to create something very new and exciting.
The idea of using a computational device to sort out the data from multiple sensors and combine information to draw a conclusion has been around since at least the 1950s. But it was exceptionally difficult to do. Around 1960, several mathematicians developed sets of algorithms in an effort to have a machine draw a conclusion based on input from multiple sensors. These filters also removed meaningless data from noise or other sources. Of course, it wasn’t long before the military decided that this technology would be useful in their applications. Being able to process inputs from multiple sources and compare it with stored data would allow the military to better track and identify potential airborne targets and even compute the certainty of the results. With better computers and sensors, the technology was advancing, but there were still complex and expensive problems to solve.
When the microprocessor first became available, people described it as a solution in search of problems. The same case can be made for sensor fusion. If you have the power and intelligence to monitor multiple sensors, analyze the data in real time, and either provide a simple direction or control an action, heretofore-unthought-of applications can be almost limitless. The following examples just scratch the surface:
Health monitoring — including healthy athletics, patient monitoring, and research
Monitoring the elderly — wellness monitoring to reduce the burden of staffing
Automotive, transportation systems — monitoring and controlling efficiency and safety functions
Public safety — identification of potential hazardous conditions with much greater accuracy than simple fire and security systems
Entertainment — gaming, including controllers and virtual reality headsets
Weather — intelligent weather forecasting stations, that not only warn of changing conditions, but control systems to prepare for a storm (for example, closing storm shutters, closing valves, etc.)
HVAC/Air Quality — intelligent control of room temperature, humidity, air quality, system maintenance, etc.