Smart systems incorporate functions of sensing, actuation, and control in order to describe and analyze a situation, and make decisions based on the available data in a

predictive A prediction (Latin ''præ-'', "before," and ''dicere'', "to say"), or forecast, is a statement about a future event or data. They are often, but not always, based upon experience or knowledge. There is no universal agreement about the exact ...

or adaptive manner, thereby performing smart actions. In most cases the “smartness” of the system can be attributed to autonomous operation based on

closed loop control Control theory is a field of mathematics that deals with the control of dynamical systems in engineered processes and machines. The objective is to develop a model or algorithm governing the application of system inputs to drive the system to a ...

energy efficiency Energy efficiency may refer to: * Energy efficiency (physics), the ratio between the useful output and input of an energy conversion process ** Electrical efficiency, useful power output per electrical power consumed ** Mechanical efficiency, a ra ...

, and networking capabilities.

Characteristics

Smart systems typically consist of diverse components: *

Sensor A sensor is a device that produces an output signal for the purpose of sensing a physical phenomenon. In the broadest definition, a sensor is a device, module, machine, or subsystem that detects events or changes in its environment and sends ...

s for signal acquisition * Elements transmitting the information to the command-and-control unit * Command-and-control units that take decisions and give instructions based on the available information * Components transmitting decisions and instructions *

Actuator An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a "mover". An actuator requires a control device (controlled by control signal) a ...

s that perform or trigger the required action

Development

A lot of smart systems evolved from

microsystem A microsystem is a self-contained subsystem located within a larger system. It generally constitutes the smallest unit of analysis in systems theory. Ecological systems theory Urie Bronfenbrenner uses the term in his ecological systems theory Ec ...

s. They combine technologies and components from microsystems technology (miniaturized electric, mechanical, optical, and fluidic devices) with other disciplines like biology, chemistry,

nanoscience The nanoscopic scale (or nanoscale) usually refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, usually cited as 1–100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanoscopic scale is (roughly speaking) a lo ...

, or cognitive sciences. There are three generations of smart systems: *First-generation smart systems:

object recognition Object recognition – technology in the field of computer vision for finding and identifying objects in an image or video sequence. Humans recognize a multitude of objects in images with little effort, despite the fact that the image of the ...

devices, driver status monitoring, and multifunctional devices for

minimally invasive surgery Minimally invasive procedures (also known as minimally invasive surgeries) encompass surgical techniques that limit the size of incisions needed, thereby reducing wound healing time, associated pain, and risk of infection. Surgery by definition ...

* Second-generation smart systems: active miniaturized artificial organs like

cochlear implants A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted neuroprosthesis that provides a person who has moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss with sound perception. With the help of therapy, cochlear implants may allow for improved speech unde ...

artificial pancreas Automated insulin delivery systems are automated (or semi-automated) systems designed to assist people with diabetes, primarily type 1, by automatically adjusting insulin delivery to help them control their blood glucose levels. Currently availabl ...

, advanced energy management systems, and environmental sensor networks * Third-generation smart systems: combine technical “intelligence” and cognitive functions so that they can provide an interface between the virtual and the physical world

Challenges

A major challenge in smart systems technology is the integration of a multitude of diverse components, developed and produced in very different technologies and materials. Focus is on the design and manufacturing of completely new marketable products and services for specialized applications (e.g., in medical technologies), and for mass market applications (e.g., in the automotive industries). In an industrial context, and when emphasizing the combination of components with the aim of merging their functional and technical abilities into an

interoperable Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems. While the term was initially defined for information technology or systems engineering services to allow for information exchange, a broader defi ...

system, the term "smart systems integration" is used. This term reflects the industrial requirement and particular challenge of integrating different technologies, component sizes, and materials into one system. The systems approach calls for integrated design and manufacturing and has to bring together interdisciplinary technological approaches and solutions ( converging technologies). Manufacturing companies as well as research institutes therefore face challenges in terms of specialized technological knowhow, skilled labor, design tools, and equipment needed for the research, design and manufacturing of integrated smart systems.

Applications area for smart systems

Smart systems address environmental, societal, and economic challenges like limited resources, climate change,

population ageing Population ageing is an increasing median age in a population because of declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy. Most countries have rising life expectancy and an ageing population, trends that emerged first in developed countries b ...

, and globalization. They are for that reason increasingly used in a large number of sectors. Key sectors in this context are transportation, healthcare, energy, safety and security, logistics, ICT, and manufacturing.

Environment

In terms of environmental challenges, smart solutions for energy management and distribution, smart control of electrical drives, smart logistics, or energy-efficient facility management could, by 2020, reduce global emissions by 23%, with an equivalent of 9.2 Gt e.

Automotive sector

In the automotive sector, smart systems integration will be a key enabler for pre-crash systems and predictive driver assistance features to reach the goal of the Road Safety Action Plan to halve the number of traffic deaths by 2020. Furthermore, smart systems are considered fundamental for sustainable and energy-efficient mobility, e.g., hybrid and electric traction.

Internet of Things

Smart systems also considerably contribute to the development of the future

Internet of Things The Internet of things (IoT) describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other comm ...

, in that they provide smart functionality to everyday objects, e.g., to industrial goods in the

supply chain In commerce, a supply chain is a network of facilities that procure raw materials, transform them into intermediate goods and then final products to customers through a distribution system. It refers to the network of organizations, people, acti ...

, or to food products in the food supply chain. With the help of active

RFID Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electromag ...

technology, wireless sensors, real-time sense and response capability, energy efficiency, as well as networking functionality, objects will become smart objects. These smart objects could support the elderly and the disabled. The close tracking and monitoring of food products could improve food supply and quality. Smart industrial goods could store information about their origin, destination, components, and use. And

waste disposal Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring ...

could become a truly efficient individual

recycling Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the p ...

process.

Armatix The Armatix iP1 is a magazine-fed, semi-automatic pistol which uses smart gun technology. The pistol is chambered for the .22 Long Rifle rimfire ammunition, rimfire cartridge. It is designed and manufactured by the German company Personalized gun# ...

developed a pistol that uses an

-active wristwatch to function.

Healthcare

In the healthcare sector, smart systems technology leads to better diagnostic tools, to better treatment and quality of life for patients by simultaneously reducing costs of public healthcare systems. Key developments in this sector are smart miniaturized devices and

artificial organs An artificial organ is a human made organ device or Tissue (biology), tissue that is Implant (medicine), implanted or integrated into a human — interfacing with living tissue — to replace a natural Organ (anatomy), organ, to duplicate or augm ...

cochlear implant A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted neuroprosthesis that provides a person who has moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss with sound perception. With the help of therapy, cochlear implants may allow for improved speech und ...

s. For example,

Lab-on-a-chip A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a device that integrates one or several laboratory functions on a single integrated circuit (commonly called a "chip") of only millimeters to a few square centimeters to achieve automation and high-throughput screening. ...

devices have biochemical sensors that detect specific

molecular marker A molecular marker is a molecule, sampled from some source, that gives information about its source. For example, DNA is a molecular marker that gives information about the organism from which it was taken. For another example, some proteins can be ...

s in body fluids or tissue. They can include multiple functionalities such as sample taking, sample preparation, and sample pre-treatment, data processing, and storage, implantable systems which can be reabsorbed by the body after use, non-invasive sensors based on

transdermal Transdermal is a route of administration wherein active ingredients are delivered across the skin for systemic distribution. Examples include transdermal patches used for medicine delivery. The drug is administered in the form of a patch or ointme ...

principles, or devices for responsive administration of medication. In healthcare, smart systems often operate autonomously and within networks, because those systems are able to provide real-time monitoring, diagnosis, interaction with other devices, and communication with the patient or physician.

References

* Akhras, G.
"Smart Materials and Smart Systems for the Future"
''Canadian Military Journal'', 08/2000 * European Commission ICT Work Programme 2007-08 tp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/ict-wp-2007-08_en.pdf* European Commission ICT Work Programme 2009-10 tp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/ict-wp-2009-10_en.pdf* * * * Meyer, G. et al.: Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications 2009 - Smart Systems for Safety, Sustainability and Comfort, Springer 2009 * Internet-of-Things in 2020 – A roadmap for the future, 200

* Strategy Paper “Smart Systems for the Full Electric Vehicle”, 200

* Varadan, V. K.: ''Handbook of Smart Systems and Materials'', Inst Of Physics Pub, London 2005 * Wadhawan, V. K.: ''Smart Structures'', Oxford University Press 2005 * {{cite book , last=Meyer , first=Gereon , display-authors=etal , title=Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications 2018: Smart Systems for Clean, Safe and Shared Road Vehicles , publisher=Springer , publication-place=Berlin , year=2018 , isbn=978-3-319-99762-9

External links

The European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration
(EPoSS)
EPoSS Strategic Research Agenda 2017

Product Showcase
Smart Systems Integrated®

- European Conference and Exhibition
Smart Systems for Clean, Safe and Shared Road Vehicles
– 22nd International Forum on Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications (AMAA 2018) Systems engineering el:Ευφυή υλικά