Microwave technology is of special interest for the implementation of low-cost, low profile, and highly sensitive planar sensors devoted to the analysis of material properties.
Microwave sensors exhibit a wide range of potential applications, in so many different fields such as health/veterinary (monitoring of electrolyte concentration in blood or urine), industrial processes (fermentation monitoring, liquid concentrations, cleaning processes monitoring…) or construction (defect detection in infrastructures), among others. The main characteristics that make this sensor technology competitive are the high sensitivity and the possibility of real-time monitoring, the latter being very important since it offers the chance to save time and resources that could be critical in some industries
Technology description and motivation
Within the paradigm of the internet of things (IoT), or more generally the internet of everything (IoE), and the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (also known as Industry 4.0), the use of sensors has experienced an exponential growth. Moreover, this trend will continue with the progressive implantation of the 5th generation of mobile networks, designated as 5G, which is expected to satisfy the large-scale connectivity requirements that today’s modern society demands (an interesting example is the autonomous and connected vehicle, necessarily equipped with hundreds of sensors). There are many available technologies for the implementation of sensors. Aspects such as diverse as sensor cost, size, and complexity, as well as the type of measurand, among others, dictate the preferred option. Although the most extended technology in modern sensors is probably optics/photonics (examples include optical fiber sensors, laser-based sensors, wearable chemical and biological sensors, nanophotonic biosensors, image sensors, etc.), significant efforts have been dedicated in recent years to the research and development of microwave sensors, especially for applications related to material characterization and composition. Microwaves are very sensitive to the properties of the materials to which they interact. Therefore, microwave technology is very useful for material sensing. Moreover, microwaves exhibit further interesting properties for sensing, such as low-cost generation and detection systems, interaction to the materials at different scales (i.e., through the near-field or the far-field), compatibility with planar technology, wireless connectivity, and robustness against harsh environments, among others. Thus, highly sensitive, robust, low cost, small size, and low-profile microwave sensors and wireless sensors based on the above-cited properties can be implemented.
Main technical aspects
Applications
Further research required
Studies are being carried out in order to further increase sensitivity of the sensor structures, as well as their application in wearable devices, among others.
Partners for future research
Looking for companies or institutions for joint developement of the technology and detection of new applications, through R+D+i projects or contracts
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