Abstract: A universal sensor pod provides a native sensing function during a first mode of operation and a secondary sensing function during a second mode of operation. The universal sensor pod may transition from the native sensing function to the secondary sensing function upon detecting that a sensor capable of the secondary sensing function is connected to the universal sensor pod via a smart connector. The universal sensor pod may continue one or more native sensing functions along with the secondary sensing function upon detecting that a sensor capable of the secondary sensing function is connected to the universal sensor pod via a smart connector. A code embedded within the smart connector is transmitted to a processor contained within the universal sensor pod and in response, the processor executes a firmware application that is tailored to the secondary sensing function code in response to receiving the code.