A smart sensor system, comprising: one or more configurable channels, each configurable channel including one or more switches, wherein the system is either: (i) a first smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable input channels, the one or more switches of each input channel are configured to activate the input channel and/or to select a type of input signal, the system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert one or more signals from one or more input channels, and the system comprises at least one programmable logic device configured to control the operation of the one or more switches for the one or more input channels; or (ii) a second smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable output channels, the one or more switches are configured to activate the output and/or to select a type of output signal, the system comprises at least one digital-to-analog converter that is used for the one or more outputs, and the system comprises at least one controller configured to control the one or more configurable output channels; or (iii) a third smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable input and output channels, the one or more switches are configured to activate the input and/or output and/or to select a type of input and/or output signal, the system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to the one or more switches for the one or more configurable channels, and the system comprises at least one controller configured to control the one or more configurable channels; the smart sensor system characterised in that the output of the one or more switches is connected to a resistor switch system, the resistor switch system including a switch and a plurality of resistors such that the switch can select between the resistors. (i) a first smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable input channels, the one or more switches of each input channel are configured to activate the input channel and/or to select a type of input signal, the system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert one or more signals from one or more input channels, and the system comprises at least one programmable logic device configured to control the operation of the one or more switches for the one or more input channels; or (ii) a second smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable output channels, the one or more switches are configured to activate the output and/or to select a type of output signal, the system comprises at least one digital-to-analog converter that is used for the one or more outputs, and the system comprises at least one controller configured to control the one or more configurable output channels; or (iii) a third smart sensor system in which the one or more configurable channels are one or more configurable input and output channels, the one or more switches are configured to activate the input and/or output and/or to select a type of input and/or output signal, the system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to the one or more switches for the one or more configurable channels, and the system comprises at least one controller configured to control the one or more configurable channels;