Sensors
A sensor is only good if it measures the right thing under the conditions in which the product will actually be used. At Move we help turn measurement requirements into the right sensor solution, considering signal processing, mechanical placement, environment, power consumption and integration together from the start.
Sensors
The right measurement under the right conditions
The sensor is the product's connection to the physical world. It is where the data originates, which is why the wrong choice of sensor can be hard to correct later. Good software and advanced algorithms can process data, but they cannot compensate for a measurement that is fundamentally wrong or unstable.
The whole measurement chain
From physical phenomenon to data point
Harsh environments
Heat, vibration, moisture and dust
Custom sensors
When the standard does not fit
Real data early
Tested under realistic conditions
It starts with what needs to be measured
That is why we start by understanding what actually needs to be measured. What measurement range is relevant? What resolution and accuracy are required? How quickly does the sensor need to respond? How much variation is acceptable? And not least: what environment does it have to work in?
The lab bench is not the real world
A sensor that performs superbly on a laboratory bench can behave quite differently in an industrial environment with high temperatures, vibration, moisture, dust or electrical noise. That is why we do not just look at the best figures in the datasheet, but also at temperature drift, robustness, service life, calibration needs and how the sensor responds to influences that are not part of the measurement itself.
Signal conditioning matters just as much
Signal conditioning is often at least as important as the sensor. The sensor signal has to be matched to the quantity actually being measured, so that the product's resolution and dynamic range are used properly. That can call for amplification, filtering, an analogue front end, noise reduction, linearisation or compensation for temperature and other environmental parameters. A large part of good sensor design therefore lies in making the whole measurement chain, from the physical stimulus to the digital result, work as one solution.
Placement can be decisive
The mechanical placement can also be decisive. A temperature sensor has to measure the temperature in the right place, not the heat from the product's own electronics. A vibration sensor needs the right mechanical coupling to the structure it is monitoring. A pressure or flow sensor has to be positioned so that the installation itself does not introduce errors into the measurement.
Sometimes it is the placement itself that makes the sensor task difficult. There may be very little space, the sensor may have to sit on a rotating or moving part, or it may be impractical to run cables to it. In such cases, the solution may be a very compact, battery-powered sensor with wireless communication. Sensor selection, low power design, antenna placement and mechanical design then become one combined design task.
Protection in harsh environments
In harsh environments, the sensor may also need special physical protection. We have, for example, developed custom sensor solutions in which the electronics and the sensing element are cast in epoxy to protect them against moisture, vibration, mechanical stress or other environmental conditions. That places new demands on the design, the materials and the thermal conditions alike, because the protection must not spoil the measurement the sensor has to make.
When a standard sensor does not fit
Nor is there always a standard sensor that suits the task. Sometimes we can modify an existing sensor or develop a custom sensor ourselves. At other times, we use our network of specialised sensor manufacturers to have a solution developed for the specific application.
That might be a flow sensor, for example, where we work with the manufacturer to specify the measurement range, resolution, accuracy, medium, materials, electrical interface and mechanical connection fittings. That can be a better solution than trying to build the product around a standard component that almost, but not quite, suits the application.
Real data as early as possible
During development, we like to test sensor principles early. That may be with evaluation boards, temporary mechanical set-ups or our own test fixtures. The goal is to get real data as quickly as possible and see how the sensor behaves under realistic conditions before the rest of the product is designed around it.
The whole measurement chain
At Move we therefore do not see the sensor as a single component on a bill of materials. We see the whole measurement chain, from the physical phenomenon through the sensor, mechanics, analogue electronics and signal processing to the data point the software has to work with. The better that chain is understood and designed, the better the product becomes.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose the right sensor?
We start from what needs to be measured and assess measurement range, resolution, accuracy, response time, environment, size, power consumption and mechanical integration, among other things.
What is signal conditioning?
Signal conditioning is the processing of the sensor signal before it is used digitally. It can include amplification, filtering, noise reduction, linearisation and temperature compensation, among other things.
Can you develop sensors for harsh environments?
Yes. We have experience with sensor solutions for environments involving vibration, temperature, moisture and mechanical stress, among other things. The solution may call for special mechanical protection or, for example, encapsulation in epoxy.
Can the sensor be battery-powered and wireless?
Yes. If the placement makes cabling difficult, we can develop compact, battery-powered sensor nodes with wireless communication. The sensor, electronics, software and communication are then optimised together for low power consumption.
Can you develop a custom sensor?
Yes. If a standard sensor does not suit the application, we can develop or modify a sensor solution ourselves, or use our network of specialised sensor manufacturers.
Can you specify custom-made sensors?
Yes. Through our partners we can have custom-made sensors manufactured. One example could be a flow sensor with special requirements for measurement range, resolution, accuracy, materials, electrical interface or the mechanical connections.
Shall we turn your idea into reality?
Technical development takes more than good ideas — it takes the right skills. We have gathered hardware, software and engineering expertise under one roof, so you get from prototype to production quickly and safely.
Reach out to us →