From Lab to Field: Modular VNAs as Embedded Sensors for Industry, Agriculture, and Medicine

Session details:

Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs) are traditionally associated with high-precision laboratory and production test environments. However, the advent of compact, modular VNAs is opening new opportunities for their deployment as embedded sensors in industrial, agricultural, and medical systems. This talk explores how modular VNAs can move beyond the bench and become integral components in distributed sensing networks. Examples include integration into MQTT-enabled industrial monitoring platforms for detecting changes in gas and liquid properties, embedding VNAs into microwave imaging arrays for medical diagnostics, and deploying compact modules in agricultural system, such as a peanut moisture measurement instrument that enables real-time quality and process control. By reframing VNAs as embedded sensing elements rather than standalone instruments, engineers can leverage their precise scattering parameter measurements to unlock new applications across diverse industries.