what is telemetry

Telemetry is the automatic measurement and wireless transmission of data from remote sources. It involves using sensors to collect data—either electrical (like voltage and current) or physical (such as temperature and pressure)—which is then transmitted to a remote location for monitoring, analysis, and control. The process typically works as follows: sensors at the data source measure various metrics; this data is converted into electrical signals and combined into a data stream for transmission; a remote receiver separates and processes this data for user-specified analysis. Telemetry is widely used in many fields, including IT and software development, healthcare, aerospace, agriculture, and cybersecurity. It helps monitor system performance, detect anomalies, optimize operations, and improve decision- making. In software, telemetry lets developers track application health, user behavior, and resource usage in real time. Overall, telemetry enables the remote collection, transmission, and analysis of data for better system oversight and control across diverse industries. Its use of wireless or wired communication networks, satellites, and sensors makes it essential for monitoring hard-to-reach or distributed locations. This technology is key in applications ranging from spacecraft monitoring to medical patient care and IoT devices like automobiles and smart meters. Telemetry data types include metrics, events, logs, traces, and user interactions, providing detailed insights into system behavior and performance.