Artificial Perceptual Sensors - Artificial Human Sensors: Science and Applications - page 140

tivity of sensors increases the capability to fit specific application requirements.

—Baseconcept electronic tongue,

— Operational principle

−→

−→ voltammetry,

— Application drinking water,

— Sensing capability

−→

−→ bottled water, tap water, wells, reservoirs.

6.3.3 A Complex Operational Integration

The measuring operational principles in artificial sensing systems are complex
because they take into consideration all the various knowledge of sensing the
fuzzy aspects that are not very often well-defined measuring parameters, e.g.,
water- and air-quality comfort. Typically, one single sensing unit cannot in fact
perceive all the aspects of requested specific information, which involves a qualita-
tive measurement. But a multi-dimensional approach of the operational principles
involved is necessary in order to achieve the level of requested quality parameters
of interest. Typically, input values to an information providing sensor system is
in a complementary form, such as, it overcomes the non-specificities on behalf of
a single sensor solutions by the use of a multi-dimensional approach. By assem-
bling arrays of sensors in a certain strategic manner, it will motivate the common
approach of using the benefits of dimensionality. Sensor arrays assemble possibil-
ities of various kinds to increase the motivation to measure and identify complex
qualitative parameters. Increased dimensionality can by advantage be used, and
will be further effective if also complementing sensors of other operational princi-
ples are added to the sensor array, Sundic (2000).
A large interest today is to apply chemical sensors, not least because of
increased demands on environmental monitoring, food quality and safety issues.
These, and similar application solutions that require small and cost effective de-
vices capable of sensing gases and toxins in our close proximity. Therefore, it is of
high interest to be able to evaluate that part of the performance, that is focussed
and mainly related to repeatability and sensitivity. The continuity in system per-
formance over time is also a question to be solved in the maintenance schedule,
when changing sensing elements or units after a predetermined time period of
sensor change to avoid general sensor deterioration.
The aim of designing a specific artificial sensor system and especially com-
plex qualitative measurement is of course to provide a convincing operational
methodology that exhibits a coherent understanding. Here, substantial values
lie in the measurement that continuous measurements provide over time. The
main question here is provided in the validation of existing and operational sensor
systems. The validation of complex sensor systems with a substantial part of arti-
ficial intelligence involved will naturally conduct test experiments to verify their
performance.