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The Role of Prototyping in Sensor Integration It is undoubtedly important to be able to model a sensor from electrical, thermal, and mechanical perspectives, but sometimes simulation is not enough. While simulations can be accurate and reliable, it can often be difficult to account for all necessary factors. Datasheets do not always tell the full story, and real-world phenomena can cause variations in sensor behavior that cannot always be captured through device models and computer simulations. Instead, it is often necessary to physically prototype a sensor product to understand how the device behaves in the real world. As the use cases of sensor products are flexible and diverse, a real-world test often is necessary to determine whether an idea or implementation is truly practical. Seeing is believing, and the most reliable way to evaluate a sensor's behavior is to experiment with it directly. In most cases, the best way to physically prototype a sensor is through the use of evaluation and development kits. A good development kit will be easy to use and approachable, offering the user a plug-and-play solution for rapid prototyping. In general, all of the sensor's capabilities should be readily accessible and observable via a development kit's board and software. Chapter Four 16 | The Role of Prototyping in Sensor Integration "The prototyping of a sensor with its evaluations kits is an essential step to determine whether a sensor will fit into the final form factor of the product. Only after successfully testing the prototype can the sensor be incorporated into the final products." Philip Li Device Physicist, Director of Sensor Technology Development, Pacific Biosciences