Sensors

The interface between any data collection system and the environment can be classified as a sensor. The sensor specifically is any component that provides a measurable response to a change in the environment. The selection of an appropriate sensor for a given task can be daunting given the vast design options that exist. By establishing a generalized model that can be used to characterize any sensor, the process of sensor selection can be reduced to a methodical practice. The goal of this chapter is to introduce such a sensor model.