Advanced Sensing and Processing (ASP) technologies are vital components in cyber-physical systems (CPS), which integrate physical processes with computational elements. These systems leverage sensors, actuators, and communication technologies to monitor, control, and secure both physical and digital environments. Advanced sensors, such as high-frequency radars, collect real-time data about the physical world, while sophisticated processing techniques, often powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, analyse this data to identify anomalies and threats.

Sparse sensing by signal processing techniques as well as AI-based sensor fusions are key enablers to realise economic, sustainable sensing solutions to extract necessary and sufficient information from complex real-world applications. By combining data extraction (sensing) and data processing (AI methodology), information can be distilled from harsh environments.

In the context of physical security, these techniques can be deployed in threat-detection scenarios, for example, in personal scanners. Here they add extra functionality and aid existing techniques, such as imaging cameras and simple metal detectors. Similar techniques, working on the same principles, can also be deployed in other applications, such as enabling the safe operation of wind and wave power generation by tracking the environment. Another example of areas where sensing is key is energy system monitoring, including batteries and power electronics.