As their name suggests, shock and impact sensors sense shocks and impacts. There are many different types of shock and impact sensors, from labels that contain a vial of fluid that will burst when exposed to certain levels of shock to devices that use quartz crystals to accumulate electrical charge due to mechanical stress to high-tech devices that measure and record all manner of movement.
Once I tried a shock sensor for my laptop, and it literally saved my laptop 2 times in a span of 1 year. Thus, I can say, that it is very important to have for your laptops, and even for other gadgets.
Shock and impact sensors provide valuable data that end users and business leaders can use to make more informed decisions about goods and services.
Here are a few typical applications of shock and impact sensors and why they are such a valuable solution in many cases.
Shipping and Handling
Among the simplest and most obvious applications for shock and impact sensors is in shipping and handling, when equipment and inventory are most likely to sustain damage. Sensors designed for use in shipping and handling are most often in the form of basic labels, which are affordable and disposable, though there are more robust sensor tools that can collect a broader range of data, transmit that data in real-time, and be reused by shippers. Especially when transporting delicate or expensive goods, businesses can affix impact sensors that measure the forces exerted on their packages during travel.
Sensors can communicate to carriers and handlers that certain packages require more care, and they can alert recipients to survey goods for damage before accepting delivery.
Tap Detection
An interesting use of shock and impact sensors that many business leaders and consumers might not know is that of tap detection on touchscreen devices. Tiny sensors behind the screen detect the force of a finger tap and record the direction of the tap, which allows the touch screen to respond appropriately to a user’s needs. Undeniably, this application is among the most popular in the world, considering the number and diversity of touchscreen tools in 2023. Still, not every business leader works in the manufacture of touchscreen devices, so this application is not particularly actionable in most business contexts.
Micro-drive Protection
Another application of shock and impact sensors in tech is the use of these tools to protect delicate and sensitive disk drives from damage. Laptops and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are likely to experience free falls and sudden impacts. When these occur, shock sensors can detect sudden movement and inform the drive to retract its read/write head. Then, when the impact occurs, the head will not scratch the drive and cause damage.
In some tech devices, the sensors tell the drive to shut down completely, which again protects the tool from permanent harm as a result of the impact. The use of shock and impact sensors is why modern mobile devices are so much tougher than previous generations of mobile devices, which broke irrevocably with the smallest fall.
Business leaders with organizations that rely on the proper functioning of mobile devices in potentially hazardous environments might prioritize the acquisition of tech tools with reliable shock and impact sensors built into the hardware.
General Tamper-proofing
Theft and vandalism are major concerns for businesses, many of which cannot afford to recover from these kinds of damages again and again. In environments where theft and vandalism are common — and to protect particularly valuable assets, like equipment and vehicles — businesses might employ shock and impact sensors.
Already, shock and impact sensors are often built into some automobiles to augment security systems. If a thief or vandal attacks certain valuable components of the vehicle, like the wheels, the lights or the windows, the alarm will sound, alerting others to the ongoing tampering. Businesses might use shock and impact sensors in this way to enhance the security of vaults, strongrooms, safes, and other tools and locations that might experience a physical attack.
In business, data is power — and data is money. By using tools like shock and impact sensors to collect data, business leaders can make more meaningful decisions that cut costs and lead to greater business success. The above applications of shock and impact sensors are common across industries, and leaders might consider how they can innovate using shock and impact sensors to meet their own needs.
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