Evolution of the next generation of sensors in the connected world: technical and human challenges
Olivier Bonnaud1,2,*
* The author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
1 L'Institut d'Électronique et des Technologies du numéRique, IETR UMR CNRS 6164, Campus de Beaulieu, Université de Rennes, 35042 RENNES Cedex, France
2 GIP-CNFM, MINATEC, Grenoble-INP - 3, Parvis Louis Néel, 38016 Grenoble Cedex 16, France
Abstract
Since the early 2000s, the number of connected objects including sensors has grown exponentially, resulting in an exponential increase in the amount of treated data as well as in electrical energy consumption. If this trend does not slow down, by 2030, all of the world's electrical energy production will be devoted to digital activities. All storage, transmission and processing hardware involved in connected sensors is based on microelectronic technologies. The current challenge is thus to divide the consumption of these objects by a factor 10, at least, by implementing the recent research results in the field. The implementation of new architectures, new technologies, involving analog and asynchronous functions should optimize the size of the connected and smart sensors, minimizing their electrical consumption. In addition, these approaches require new skills directly related to the needs of microelectronic companies that have been experiencing a job shortage for more than five years. After a presentation of the context, the paper details potential solutions for improving techniques to meet the challenges, paying attention to technical improvements and expected skills. The final goal is to highlight the priority capabilities expected from future graduates to develop adequate sensors in a global IoT (Internet of Things) approach respecting the energy and environmental constraints.
Keywords - Electrical engineering, microelectronics, connected sensors, energy consumption, skills and know-how.