Custom sensors and sensor fusion can enable your applications
By Ewan Laidlaw
Where existing sources of data do not provide sufficient granularity or scalability, a novel approach to sensing, fusion and interpretation might be what you need.
Unlocking insights through custom sensing
In demanding energy and mining environments where standard sensing solutions fall short, custom sensors unlock insights by leveraging fundamental physics to solve complex challenges. Imagine needing a camera that can see magnetic fields to map ore or a sensor that detects the composition of gas leaks to better manage your distribution network—custom sensing solutions can make these visions a reality. Whether you’re entering a new market or tackling unique operational problems, custom solutions provide capabilities that no one else can.
Designing custom sensors requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical properties you will measure, while selecting materials and methods to ensure performance, durability, and accuracy. Integrating sensors demands balancing connectivity, protocols, power management, and efficiency, often requiring extensive prototyping and testing to achieve optimal performance.
Modifying existing hardware in-house can be challenging, limiting your capacity to adapt to new problems discovered during testing or to expand into new markets. Imagine if the only thing standing between you and a successful business case is the response time of your camera shutter or the power dissipation of your radar. The ability to adjust fundamental aspects of your products or customize off-the-shelf solutions can be transformative. Custom hardware is our specialty, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
Hardware-algorithm integration drives success
You need experts with a deep understanding of the hardware and software used in autonomy, automation, and augmentation tasks. Multidisciplinary expertise allows you to effectively combine novel hardware with advanced algorithms, maximizing performance. For example, leveraging our expertise in nonlinear acoustics and piezoelectric technology, TTP developed a custom gas sensor for leak monitoring, followed by a tailored data processing algorithm tuned to the hardware, resulting in improved leak detection efficacy. Recognizing that good algorithms are built on real data; you can conduct rigorous testing during design to understand sensor performance in real-world conditions. This approach accelerates the integration of new technology and builds confidence among stakeholders who may prefer to ‘stick with what’s known.’ This is particularly important in autonomous applications, where reliability and quick response times are crucial to ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Our expert teams and facilities enable you to discover insights that seemed unattainable, leveraging novel approaches to sensing, fusion, and data interpretation. This collaborative and supportive environment empowers you to expand capabilities and achieve greater efficiency and safety in your operations.
Sensor fusion
In industries where existing sources of data do not provide sufficient granularity or scalability, a novel approach to sensing, fusion, and interpretation is exactly what you need. The autonomous drone space highlights how to design systems with low-latency sensor fusion and real-time analytics, facilitating fast and actionable insights in critical situations. This capability is particularly valuable in energy and mining sectors, where rapid response can prevent accidents and improve operational efficiency.
As explained above, a deep understanding of sensors is crucial for effective integration. This expertise ensures the fusion process yields reliable and actionable insights for your solutions. For example, TTP used ground-up thinking to design a low size, weight and power sensor system for drone detect-and-avoid use cases. Coupling low-cost cameras and a custom low-cost radar that were then fused, detection estimation was better than either individual sensor. Highlighting the power of sensor fusion when done with a fundamental understanding of sensor performance.
How we help
From aviation to mobility and broader industrial technology, we provide our expertise and experience in custom sensing, sensor fusion and system engineering to help our clients embrace and develop technologies for autonomy that will keep them ahead of the curve and their competition.
Case studies and insights
Custom Gas Sensing
Catalysing a solution to challenges in the custody of nuclear waste and delivery of oxygen therapy with a single underlying platform technology. TTP has developed many different sensors using almost as many different physical principles, but for both Sellafield and Philips Respironics a sensing solution was found through speed-of-sound as a measure of gas composition.
Sensor Fusion In Drones
TTP used ground-up thinking to design a low size, weight and power sensor system for drone detect-and-avoid use cases. Coupling low-cost cameras and a custom low-cost radar that were then fused, detection estimation was better than either individual sensor.
Novel Gas Network Conditioning
The global warming potential of natural gas leaking from the UK gas distribution network is substantial. Cadent and TTP worked together to develop new and better gas conditioning equipment to reduce this leakage.
Bespoke Sensor Fusion
We developed a classical AI system to allow safe co-operation between field robots and workers that would satisfy regulatory requirements.
Automated Sensor Testing
Accelerating the development of continuous glucose monitor sensors with automated test systems. TTP has developed an automated CGM sensor testing platform that helps novel CGM sensors reach the market with ease.
Intelligence From Scanning Aperture Radar
TTP was able to use open-source SAR data to extract intelligence about mining activities. Even segmenting trucks on the haul road.