Amotion detector is an electrical device that utilizes asensor to detect nearby motion (motion detection). Such a device is often integrated as acomponent of a system that automatically performs a task oralerts a user of motion in an area. They form a vital component of security,automated lighting control, home control,energy efficiency, and other useful systems. It can be achieved by eithermechanical orelectronic methods.[1] When it is done by natural organisms, it is calledmotion perception.
Anactive electronic motion detector contains an optical, microwave, or acoustic sensor, as well as a transmitter. However, apassive contains only a sensor and only senses a signature from the moving object via emission or reflection. Changes in the optical, microwave or acoustic field in the device's proximity are interpreted by the electronics based on one of several technologies. Most low-cost motion detectors can detect motion at distances of about 4.6 metres (15 ft). Specialized systems are more expensive but have either increased sensitivity or much longer ranges.Tomographic motion detection systems can cover much larger areas because the radio waves it senses are at frequencies which penetrate most walls and obstructions, and are detected in multiple locations.
Motion detectors have found wide use in commercial applications. One common application is activating automatic door openers in businesses and public buildings. Motion sensors are also widely used in lieu of a trueoccupancy sensor in activating street lights or indoor lights in walkways, such as lobbies and staircases. In suchsmart lighting systems, energy is conserved by only powering the lights for the duration of a timer, after which the person has presumably left the area. A motion detector may be among the sensors of aburglar alarm that is used to alert the home owner or security service when it detects the motion of a possible intruder. Such a detector may also trigger asecurity camera to record the possible intrusion.
Motion controllers are also used forvideo game consoles asgame controllers. A camera can also allow the body's movements to be used for control, such as in theKinect system.
Motion can be detected by monitoring changes in:
Several types of motion detection are in wide use:
Passive infrared (PIR) sensors are sensitive to a person's skin temperature through emittedblack-body radiation atmid-infrared wavelengths, in contrast to background objects at room temperature. No energy is emitted from the sensor, thus the namepassive infrared.[3] This distinguishes it from theelectric eye for instance (not usually considered amotion detector), in which the crossing of a person or vehicle interrupts a visible or infrared beam. These devices can detect objects, people, or animals by picking up one's infrared radiation.[4]
The most basic forms of mechanical motion detection utilize a switch or trigger. For example, the keys of atypewriter use a mechanical method of detecting motion, where each key is a switch that is either off or on, and each letter that appears is a result of the key's motion.
These detect motion through the principle ofDoppler radar, and are similar to aradar speed gun. Acontinuous wave ofmicrowave radiation is emitted, and phase shifts in the reflected microwaves due to motion of an object toward (or away from) the receiver result in aheterodyne signal at a lowaudio frequency.
Anultrasonic transducer emits anultrasonic wave (sound at a frequency higher than a human ear can hear) and receives reflections from nearby objects.[5] Exactly as inDoppler radar, heterodyne detection of the received field indicates motion. The detecteddoppler shift is also at low audio frequencies (for walking speeds) since the ultrasonicwavelength of around a centimeter is similar to the wavelengths used in microwave motion detectors. One potential drawback of ultrasonic sensors is that the sensor can be sensitive to motion in areas where coverage is undesired, for instance, due to reflections of sound waves around corners.[6] Such extended coverage may be desirable for lighting control, where the goal is the detection of any occupancy in an area, but for opening an automatic door, for example, a sensor selective to traffic in the path toward the door is superior.
These systems sense disturbances to radio waves as they pass from node to node of a mesh network. They have the ability to detect over large areas completely because they can sense through walls and other obstructions. RF tomographic motion detection systems may use dedicated hardware, other wireless-capable devices or a combination of the two. Other wireless capable devices can act as nodes on the mesh after receiving a software update.[7]
With the proliferation of low-costdigital cameras able to shoot video, it is possible to use the output of such a camera to detect motion in its field of view usingsoftware.[8][9] This solution is particularly attractive when the intent is to record video triggered by motion detection, as no hardware beyond the camera and computer is needed. Since the observed field may be normally illuminated, this may be considered anotherpassive technology. However, it can also be used together withnear-infrared illumination to detect motion in thedark, that is, with the illumination at a wavelength undetectable by a human eye.
More complex algorithms are necessary to detect motion when the camera itself ispanning, or when a specific object's motion must be detected in a field containing other, irrelevant movement—for example, a painting surrounded by visitors in anart gallery. With a panning camera, models based onoptical flow are used to distinguish between apparent background motion caused by the camera's movement and that of independently moving objects.[10]
Photodetectors and infrared lighting elements can support digital screens todetect hand motions and gestures with the aid of machine learning algorithms.[11]
Many modern motion detectors use combinations of different technologies. While combining multiple sensing technologies into one detector can help reduce false triggering, it does so at the expense of reduced detection probabilities and increased vulnerability.[citation needed] For example, many dual-tech sensors combine both a PIR sensor and a microwave sensor into one unit. For motion to be detected, both sensors must trip together.[citation needed] This lowers the probability of a false alarm since heat and light changes may trip the (passive infrared) PIR but not the microwave, or moving tree branches may trigger the microwave but not the PIR. If an intruder is able to fool either the PIR or microwave, however, the sensor will not detect it.[citation needed]
Often, PIR technology is paired with another model to maximize accuracy and reduce energy use.[citation needed] PIR draws less energy than emissive microwave detection, and so many sensors are calibrated so that when the PIR sensor is tripped, it activates a microwave sensor.[citation needed][citation needed] If the latter also picks up an intruder, then the alarm is sounded.
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