Q15Internet of Things
Question
4 marks
How do sensors and actuators work together in an IoT system? Give an example.
Answer
Sensors collect data, which triggers actuators to perform actions.
In an IoT system, sensors are the input mechanisms. They detect environmental changes (e.g., temperature, motion) and send this data to a processing unit or cloud. Actuators are the output mechanisms; they receive control commands based on the processed data to perform a physical action.
For example, in a smart thermostat, a temperature sensor measures the room temperature. If the temperature drops below a threshold, the system sends a command to a relay (actuator) to turn on the heater.