Today I took a walk around Centennial to observe what types of sensors are used every day.
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| This motion sensor detects whether there is someone who is about to open the door. It locks the door when there is no motion and unlocks it when there is motion. |
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| These sensors are outside of and throughout every dorm building. They require a scan from a key card . If the key card has the rights to enter the building or hall, the light turns green and the door unlocks. If there is no scan or the card isn't set to allow the user in that specific area, the door will remain locked and the light will stay red. |
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| This is an example of a sensor that was designed to assist those with disabilities. This button is at a level that is reachable by those in wheelchairs and when pressed allows the door to open itself. |
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| The sprinkler system is an example of a sensor that is for the safety of the residents. When smoke fills the room, this sensor is triggered, turning on sprinklers that will put out any fire. |
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| An elevator button is also a good example of a sensor that we use in everyday life. |
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| These hand sanitizers that are installed all across campus have motion sensors in them. When a hand is placed below the dispenser, the canister automatically deposits the correct amount of sanitizer. |
Nice examples.
ReplyDeleteSo the door with the card sensor probably also has some sort of sensor that would detect if the room was broken into - i.e. if the door was forced open? (Please don't try it.)
With the handicapped door, I wonder if there are some other hidden sensors somewhere - that could detect if the door is currently open, or if someone is standing behind it. If the door bumps into something as it is opening, does it stop?
The sprinkler system is probably triggered by a smoke sensor that is somewhere else, and which would turn on alarms and the sprinklers if smoke is detected.
Again, with the elevator, do the doors sense if something is caught between them when they are closing? (If you must, try it with something that's not attached to your body.)
I didn't think about that.
ReplyDeleteFor the door system, I actually know from talking to one of the Berry Policemen that there are additional sensors that track if the door is broken into. The police keep a log of each time the door is opened, whether it was from an ID, from the inside, or forced open (If it was from an ID, they actually track who's ID opened the door). If the door is forced open, they come out to check and make sure that everything is in order.
The handicapped doors do not have any additional sensors. It seems as though the button activates a motor on the door that pulls the door open, but there is no sort of check to see if there's anything in the way. If there's an object to big or too heavy for the motor to open the door, it will stop, but simply because it does not have the power to continue opening the door.
With the elevator, (from previous experience) there are built in sensors for safety reasons that sense if there is an object in the doorway when the doors are trying to close. They sense if there's something moving through or if there is something stationary. If there is a stationary object for too long, often the elevator will sound an alarm until the object moves.