Sensors & Measurement
Introduction to Sensors & Measurement
Beginner-friendly sensor principles, measurement decisions, interactive experiments, and calibration practice.
About This Part
This is Part 2.2 of the IoT Class curriculum, which covers sensors & measurement topics as part of Module 2: Physical World.
This section contains 30 chapters. The learning path is now arranged so beginners first understand what sensors do, then learn how signals travel, then practice calibration and troubleshooting, and only then move into optional advanced topics.
- Start Here: what sensors measure, why specifications matter, and how to choose the right sensor for a real problem
- Signals, Interfaces, and Data: analog readings, I2C/SPI/UART communication, filtering, and signal conditioning
- Calibration, Reliability, and Power: how to make readings trustworthy over time and battery-friendly in the field
- Advanced and Optional: biomimetic ideas, infrastructure sensing, and deeper design patterns
- Hands-On Labs: guided simulations and lab activities that let you change inputs and see the consequences
How to Use This Material
- Read the why first: each chapter explains what problem the topic solves before introducing formulas or implementation.
- Use the interactions: sliders, calculators, selectors, and simulations are the primary learning tools. Change inputs and observe how readings, errors, filters, or design choices respond.
- Treat code as optional implementation detail: when code is included, it should support an experiment rather than become the main lesson. Beginners can focus on behavior, decisions, and interpretation first.
- Practice with a real scenario: after each section, ask “what would I measure, what could go wrong, and how would I know the reading is trustworthy?”
- Return later for implementation: use the code patterns after you understand the measurement problem and can predict what the code should do.
Learning Resources
Each chapter should help you answer four practical questions:
- Purpose: why this sensor or technique matters in a real IoT system
- Behavior: what changes when the physical world changes
- Decision: how to choose settings, components, protocols, or filters
- Evidence: how to prove the reading is accurate enough for the application
Use the sidebar navigation or search to explore topics in this section.