my $_sensor_type =  'I2600*&^_A8699()^%#@C9800&*%A96';
my $type = ($_sensor_type =~ /[a-z]+([0-9]+)/i)[0];
print "$type\n"; #prints 2600

#so what happens if the match and consequent slice fails?
$type ||= "some default";
#or check for undef