A smart sensor from ABB could reduce motor downtime by 70% and extend longevity by 30%, the Swiss company says. It unveiled the sensor at the Hannover Messe trade show in late April as part of a range of products designed to simplify Internet of Things applications.

A new sensor is touted for remote condition monitoring and giving an opportunity to cut electric motor downtime by 70%. The sensor attaches to a low-voltage motor, converting it into a machine that can monitor temperature, vibration, run time and other parameters that can help determine when the motor will need service. Data collected by the sensor is sent wirelessly to a cloud-based server. From there, analytical software can help operators determine when maintenance is needed.

The proactive nature of the system, plus timely, predictive maintenance, ABB says, is how unplanned motor downtime can be reduced. A motor’s energy efficiency may also improve by as much as 10%, the company says.