Many of the interesting ways electronic devices interact with their environment are through sensors, which provide a multitude of information: temperature, liquid level, position and rotation of objects, proximity, pressure, etc. Master maker, cartoonist, author, and artist Tim Hunkin spent his pandemic downtime producing a series, “The Secret Life of Components”, to introduce designers and builders to the bits and pieces he uses in his fanciful machines. Here, he explores the world of sensors and how they are applied to real-world situations.