The emergence of electronic components has made cars more sophisticated throughout time, and one of the most important electronic components is the sensor. A car contains several sensors that keep track of various characteristics of the vehicle and transmit data to the driver or ECU (Electronic Control Unit).
Advancements in technology have made life easy, even in the automotive industry, as vehicles now feature sensors that send information about their condition. The technology has involved artificial intelligence and mobile connectivity.
In this reading, we’ll explore what car sensors are, their diagrams, types, and how they generally work. We’ll also learn about their advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s get started!
What Are Car Sensors?
Car sensors are intelligent devices that monitor the condition of a vehicle and send information to the user to know when changes should be made. In some situations, it automatically makes changes to the engine.
The device controls different aspects of a vehicle, which include temperature, coolant system, oil pressure, emission levels, etc. Automobile sensors are so smart that they accept a range of values, examine them ideally, and determine the suitable condition.
If the component that features the sensor is faulty, it sends warning information to the user. The sensor is always set to notice changes in the vehicle parts. This means sensors are always working as long as the engine is running.
The early design of the sensor worked only on the engine, but it’s now advanced enough that it controls every part of the vehicle, starting from the temperature control inside the engine to the least electrical component of a car.
Functions Of Car Sensors
Car sensors are really important parts of modern cars because they provide essential data to the car’s control systems. When it comes to the performance of the vehicle, these sensors measure and monitor several factors, such as speed, temperature, pressure, and other essential parameters.
Sensors mainly help to make things safer. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) uses sensors on the wheels to keep track of how fast each wheel is spinning. If a wheel stops spinning while the car is still in motion, the ABS kicks into lower brake pressure.
This helps avoid skidding and keeps the driver in control of the vehicle. Airbags work similarly; they deploy in the event of a collision when sensors detect a rapid change in the vehicle’s speed. Increasing fuel economy is another critical function of sensors.
The oxygen sensor, fuel pressure sensor, and mass air-flow sensor all work together to optimize the car’s fuel delivery system, making sure the engine runs efficiently. The sensors keep an eye on the fuel-air mixture and can change the fuel flow to make combustion more efficient, which helps cut down on fuel use and emissions.
Sensors are really important for improving how well a car works, keeping it safe, and making it more efficient.
Diagram Of Car Sensors
Related: 38 Parts Of a Car Engine And Diagram
Types Of Car Sensors
Car sensors play a crucial role in vehicle performance, safety, and comfort. Here are some common types of car sensors:
Mass Airflow Sensor
The airflow sensors are designed to measure the volume and density of air intake by the engine. These sensors are used inside the engine where combustion occurs; they perform its operation by calculation. The device ensures the right amount of fuel and air is taken for a mixture so the engine can meet its optimal driving conditions. If the sensor fails, the car may consume more fuel, and sometimes it may stall.
Engine Speed Sensor
The sensor for the engine speed controls and monitors the spinning speed of the crankshaft. This is to say the sensor is mounted to the crankshaft. If you understand the workings of an engine, you’ll know how the workings convert the reciprocating motion of the engine into the rotary motion of the crankshaft.
Voltage Sensor
The function of voltage sensors in automobile engines is to manage the idling speed of the vehicle. It ensures the speed is increased or decreased as required. This sensor also helps regulate the alternator to keep the battery charged by monitoring the voltage in the system. The system also adjusts the idle speed according to the electrical load. The sensor keeps the battery from discharging or being overcharged.
Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP)
The MAP sensor types monitor the engine load by calculating the difference between the manifold pressure of the car and the outside pressure to ensure the engine takes fuel based on the changes in pressure. The failure of this sensor also causes high fuel consumption.
Rain Sensor
The sensor detects rain. Typically, it is found on the windscreen. When it notices raindrops on the windscreen, the sensor sends a signal to the ECU. If the car has an automated wiper function, the ECU then turns on the windscreen wipers. The rain sensor serves as a safety feature by turning on the windscreen wipers automatically.
Spark Knock Sensor
The purpose of the spark knock sensor is to ensure fuel is burning smoothly and unexpected detonation occurs. Detonation is very dangerous to the engine, as the piston rings will break, the head gasket will fail, and even damage the rod bearings.
NOx Sensor
The NOx sensor keeps track of the nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are present in the exhaust gases. There are strict laws governing the levels of nitrogen oxides that are permissible for vehicles to emit. Consequently, the NOx sensor is important for tracking the release of dangerous gases. The ECU will get the information from the sensor and adjust the air-fuel mixture to the desired NOx levels.
Wheel Speed Sensor
When turning a corner or off-roading, a car’s wheels might move at various speeds. As a result, the speed sensor assists in monitoring each wheel’s speed. The information is transmitted to the ECU, where safety functions like traction control and ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) can make use of it. For 4×4 vehicles in particular, the speed sensor is essential.
Fuel Temperature Sensor
At a constant rate, there is a sensor that monitors the fuel temperature to ensure fuel consumption is optimum. Cold fuel will take longer to burn because of its higher density, while warm fuel tends to burn faster. The sensor makes sure the fuel is injected at the right temperature and speed so that the engine can work smoothly.
Oxygen Sensor
These types of sensors help determine the amount of oxygen in the exhaust pipe. It determines if the vehicle is burning rich or lean based on the sensor calculation. The failure of the device will cause more fuel consumption, idle, and even cause the car to jerk.
Parking Sensor
This is a sensor that detects any obstructions in front or behind the car. It alerts the driver with a beeping sound. The beeping gets louder as it gets closer. The driver can safely park the car with its assistance. The autonomous emergency braking system in high-end luxury vehicles uses the sensor’s data. The vehicle will automatically apply the brakes if it approaches an object too closely.
Temperature Sensor
Coolant, air intake, and exhaust temperature sensors are used to monitor operating temperatures. The ECU takes these readings to control ignition timing, fuel delivery, cooling fans, and manage warning lights to avoid overheating damage.
Tyre Pressure Sensor
Wireless tire pressure monitoring sensors are placed inside each tire, either on the wheel rim or the valve stem. They have a wireless transmitter, pressure transducers, and a battery power supply. Temperature is also detectable by dynamic sensors.
The sensors send out RF signals containing pressure and temperature data to a central receiver module. The receiver will illuminate a warning light to notify the driver of low pressure or a leak before it compromises safety if the pressure falls by 25% below the driver’s predetermined limit.
Yaw Rate Sensor
The yaw rate is a crucial sensor that gauges the angular velocity of rotation or sways around the vehicle’s vertical axis. It detects sideways G-forces using MEMS gyroscopic sensing components that vibrate when spun.
The yaw rate signal helps the electronic stability control module by applying brakes to specific wheels and adjusting the engine throttle to prevent oversteer or understeer slideouts. It aids in preventing loss of control, rollovers, and hazardous spinouts, particularly when there is little traction.
Steering Angle Sensor
This sensor is mounted on the steering column and uses magnetic, optical, or potentiometer-based sensing to precisely track the angle and rotational speed of the steering wheel. By figuring out where the handwheel is and how it’s moving, it can understand what the driver wants and what they’re doing.
This information supports stability control, lane departure warning, automatic parking systems, and other advanced chassis control features to enhance safety and driving experience.
Accelerometer
An accelerometer uses a small vibrating element to measure both longitudinal and lateral G-forces. When paired with a gyroscope, these acceleration signals allow for full 3-axis motion detection.
The information helps airbag systems figure out dangerous impacts and deploy at the appropriate speed and force. It can also identify aggressive driving actions, rapid starts, and significant tilting of the vehicle to help with rollover detection and prevention systems.
Gyroscope
Microscopic MEMS gyroscopes work by using vibrating elements to measure orientation and angular velocity around the X, Y, and Z axes with great accuracy. This defines the rates of pitch, yaw, and roll.
Gyro data works alongside accelerometer inputs to completely define how the vehicle moves in every direction. This detailed six-axis motion sensing gives important feedback for stability control, lane change help, and self-driving systems to enhance safety.
Remote Keyless Entry Sensor
When the remote key fob is close to the car, this sensor, which is positioned on the driver’s door, picks up encoded radio signals. It verifies that the key code is correct before unlocking the doors and turning on the push button. Owners can conveniently keep the key in their pocket or handbag and unlock, enter, and start their car without pressing any buttons.
Blind Spot Sensor
Installation of radar, ultrasonic, or optical sensors in the rear bumper allows for continuous monitoring of the car’s side blind zones. LED warning lights activate on the side mirrors or head unit display when other vehicles are detected.
This helps the driver notice traffic that they can’t see, which can stop risky lane changes and accidents. Radar sensors can operate effectively in any weather, which is a big advantage over cameras and ultrasound.
Night Vision Sensor
This sensor utilizes an infrared camera and displays to improve the driver’s visibility far beyond the range of the headlights. IR sensors work by detecting the heat signatures of living things, using the temperature difference compared to cooler surroundings.
The software detects pedestrians, animals, and obstacles on the road and sends alerts if a collision seems possible, which helps the driver have more time to react and avoid accidents, particularly when driving fast.
Driver Monitoring Camera
This camera is mounted on the steering column and tracks head movement, eyelid closure, gaze vectors, and facial microexpressions using machine vision algorithms. By keeping an eye on the driver, it can identify signs of a lack of focus distraction, and tiredness that could cause collisions. If a driver is too sleepy or too distracted to pay attention to the road, the camera can wake them up with auditory and dash alerts.
Backup Camera
A rear-mounted wide-angle camera offers a clear view directly behind the vehicle, displayed on the dashboard screen. When backing up, this enables the driver to quickly spot people, things, and obstructions that might not be noticeable through the rear windows. You won’t have to worry about crashing into any buildings, poles, or driveway children or dogs thanks to the backup camera.
Parking Assistance Ultrasound Sensor
Both the front bumper and the rear bumper have short-range ultrasonic parking sensors. They use high-frequency sound waves and echo return time measurements to identify nearby static and moving obstacles while maneuvering at low speeds. If the parking assistance system detects an impending scrape or collision, it will alert the driver with auditory tones and visual displays that indicate the distance and location of incoming objects.
How Car Sensors Work
The working of car sensors is quite simple, interesting, and easy to understand. For a simple understanding of these sensors, let’s think about the human sense organ, which includes the nose, eye, mouth, hand, and ear.
All these human parts receive information from life phenomena and send it to the brain, which makes a decision. The same thing happens to automobile sensors; they sense what is happening to the vehicle and send the information to the computer, which then makes things right.
Multiplexing, which is the process of condensing wires in a microprocessor to ensure that the operation never goes out of control, is what makes sensors work. Giving an example of a sensor powering an engine cooling system, since the cooling system is broad, it could contain one or more sensors.
So, immediately after the engine starts running, the sensors monitor every aspect of the cooling system, starting from the radiator to the overflow tank. So, whenever any cooling system component goes wrong, information is sent to the driver. The sensor will notice low coolant in the system.
Early applications of sensors in an automobile are quite intense, as they send information to an analog processor. The processor makes a decision based on simple algorithms to manage the condition of the system. The analog system could only handle predefined values, so any value aside from ones programmed. If an unknown error occurs, the system will end up failing.
Advantages
Car sensors offer numerous advantages that enhance vehicle performance, safety, and convenience. Here are some key benefits:
- Sensors have made life easy for drivers.
- Faulty components are easily detected
- Automatic control is common with vehicles that feature sensors.
- The engine is properly maintained with the devices.
- Every adjustment is done precisely with sensors.
- The driver receives warning information on bad components.
Disadvantages
While car sensors provide many benefits, there are also some disadvantages to consider:
- Almost all modern cars use a variety of different sensors to collect the right information. The disadvantages of using many different sensors are that they can fail over time, which may lead to costly replacements.