Sensor Systems
Sensors are the basis of many developments such as IoT via 5G/6G, automated driving or Industry 4.0. In this field of specialization, the technological fundamentals as well as extensive system knowledge of sensor systems together with the required signal processing are taught.
Fields of application
Sensor systems are needed in almost every application areas, especially in:
- Automotive industry, traffic systems
- Industrial automation / Industry 4.0
- Robotics
- Space travel
- Augmented Reality
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Medical technology
- Energy technology
- Construction and surveying
Graduates of this specialization are qualified for research and development, but also for technical sales and project management.
Content and background
The widespread use of sensors and the associated Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will enable the comprehensive provision of information needed, for example, for individual healthcare, adequate nutrition, clean water and air, as well as sustainable energy and mobility. Studies estimate the number of sensors required for this purpose to be 1 billion and put the global economic significance at $11.1 trillion. In 2020, global sales in the sensor industry will already approach $29 billion. The German sensor industry supplies about 20% of the global sensor market. More than 100,000 jobs and €10 billion in sales in the sensor industry are directly related to German SMEs. On average, annual sales growth of 7% has been observed in recent years, accompanied by 40% additional jobs created since 2005.
In addition to sensors for measuring physical quantities such as temperature, acceleration, etc., many highly complex sensor systems with extensive evaluation algorithms based on camera, radar or lidar technology have recently found their way into many applications ranging from automotive to industrial automation. Such sensor systems capture much more information than more basic sensors, but the extraction of this information from the sensor data also requires more sophisticated signal or image processing and evaluation. All three technologies are indispensable for the realization of automated driving, but are also increasingly applied in many other areas, such as lidar-based augmented reality systems in consumer products or satellite-based monitoring of the earth's atmosphere. In the present field of specialization, the technological fundamentals as well as extensive system knowledge of the sensor systems together with the required signal processing are taught, the deeper knowledge of which only enables a mutual optimization of signal processing and sensor technology and thus opens up new fields of application and fields of use.
Interested in this topic? Have a look at the detailed description on the website of the faculty to learn more about the compulsive and elective courses of this field of specialization.