sondas

A sonda (plural sondas) is a device designed to probe, measure, or sample an environment and to transmit data about it to observers. The term originates from French sonde and is used in several Romance languages to refer to sensing instruments, with regional variations in scope. Sondas are employed across many fields to gather information without requiring direct observation.

In medicine, sondas include ultrasound probes that produce images of internal tissues, endoscopic sondas that guide instruments through body passages, and catheter-based sensors that monitor parameters such as pressure, temperature, or chemical composition. In science and engineering, space and atmospheric sondas travel to or through distant or hazardous environments to collect data; radiosondes carried by weather balloons measure atmospheric conditions and relay data to ground stations; oceanographic and geotechnical sondas sample seawater, sediments, or subsurface materials. In industry, temperature probes, pressure probes, and other process-sensing devices monitor and control manufacturing, energy, and chemical processes, often installed in pipelines, reactors, or equipment.

Typical components of a sonda include a sensing element or transducer, a power source or energy-harvesting system, signal conditioning electronics, and a data transmission or storage capability. Some sondas are passive, requiring external interrogation, while autonomous designs carry onboard power and data storage. Practical considerations vary by application: medical sondas require sterilizable and biocompatible designs; space and deep-sea variants demand rugged construction and resilience to harsh conditions. See also probe, radiosonde, and related sensing instruments.