Sensors are the senses of objects. Just as senses are a point of attraction for people, so too are objects. I've never met a single person with "senses." The word "smart" has been added to these sensors. Sensors, once confined to the mobile phone, information and communications, and automotive industries, have expanded into robotics, automobiles, medical, environmental, and energy industries. How much more appealing have they become? This is what Jeon Young-min, director of the Sensor Systems Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), says about smart sensors.

1. Environmental monitoring: Fine dust, don't move!
In the heart of Myeongdong, you access environmental monitoring via smartphone. Nano sensors measure congestion, air quality, and weather at your current location and transmit these data to a center, which then relays the relevant information. This information, gathered from various sources, is then compiled and used to predict various areas, such as how to disperse fine dust and how to control traffic.

2. Measuring and controlling air quality in the car: My car won't start after drinking alcohol!
It senses carbon dioxide exhaled by people on buses, trains, and subways. When temperatures are high, it turns on the air conditioner or air conditioner to maintain a comfortable indoor air quality. For vehicles in operation, there are also sensors in operation to prevent moisture from forming due to differences in outdoor temperatures and sensors to prevent the engine from starting for drunk drivers.

3. Food Freshness Monitoring: A Refrigerator That Alerts You to Inedible Food
Spoiled food emits specific gases. By analyzing these gases, a total of eight types of gas are detected and installed in the refrigerator. The refrigerator detects the substance through pattern recognition. If a specific gas exceeds a certain level, the system determines the food is inedible and issues notifications such as "Eat quickly" or "This food is inedible."

4. Marine Environment Monitoring and Red Tide Warning System: Red Tide, Crabs, Go Away!
Taking into account the occurrence of eutrophication, the ion concentrations of nutrients were measured during marine exploration. A system has been developed to send warnings and prevent red tides two to four weeks before they occur.

5. Smart Farm Monitoring: You can even understand the language of plants!

Photo source: KIST Blog

To grow plants effectively, knowledge of their atmospheric environment and nutrients is essential. Gas sensors have been installed in smart farms. By measuring the absorption spectra of plants, we can understand their language. Feedback on moisture and carbon dioxide shortages can be used to monitor plant species and health. Additionally, LEDs used instead of sunlight can control flowering for each plant by controlling the amount of light.

6. Drone Monitoring for Radiation and Chemicals: We Can Detect Nuclear Accidents in Advance!
The Fukushima nuclear accident was detected by an American drone. Japan was forced to confess to the drone's ability to detect radiation levels while passing through room temperature. South Korea has also developed a drone monitoring system for radiation monitoring.

7. Smart Firefighting Uniform Sensor Monitoring: Protecting Firefighters
It is a sensor that monitors the location information of firefighters, indoor harmful gases, and temperature. Although it is still in the development stage, if it is introduced, it could help ensure the safety of firefighters to some extent by informing them of their location in case of distress during rescue or when their vital signs become abnormal.

8. U-Health Respiratory Disease Monitoring System: Diagnose diseases simply by breathing.
"Just breathing..." Early diagnosis of diseases like diabetes and asthma. Diabetes is associated with high levels of acetone, carbon monoxide, and ethanol in exhaled breath, while asthma is associated with increased levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and ammonia. Based on this gas data, various diseases can be identified. Development is underway in Europe and the United States, and Korea plans to further develop this technology.

9. Interactive Smart Toy: When you spell the word lion, the screen makes an 'Ah ...
“Build a robot that walks, talks, grasps, thinks, and fires bullets. You can do anything you can imagine.” You can even create your own programs using programming software. This is the result of combining LEGO's Mindstrom (see video below) with programming blocks, motors, and sensors. It's also being developed for early childhood education. When you spell "LION," a lion appears on screen and says, "Uh-huh!" There are also coding educational toys that allow you to input actions and have them play back automatically.