PiezoBiosensor for Detecting Complex Environmental and Chemical Agents  This technology is an apparatus with multiple piezoelectric mass sensors for use in immunochemical detection of diagnostically relevant analytes. The detection is in real time, and each piezoelectric mass sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal with a receptor surface containing recombinant antibodies that are specific for a particular antigen. The technology measures the binding of antigens to the recombinant antibodies by tracking a change in mass on the receptor surface which is detected as a change in resonant frequency. This technology emerged from a research program oriented toward developing piezobiosensors and electrochemical sensors for detection in complex environmental and clinical samples. The research program is focused on combining the excellent sensitivity of electrochemical and mass sensing with the superb selectivity of biological recognition processes (e.g., protein-protein interactions, DNA-protein interactions, carbohydrate-protein interactions). |
Magnetoelectric Multilayer Composites for Field Conversion This technology is a magnetoelectric multilayer composite comprised of alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field, or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films that are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields; sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices. |
Center for Biomedical Research This center supports state-of-the-art research facilities for biomedical research, promotes and publicizes biomedical research, and aggressively encourages and supports initiatives for support of biomedical research. The center sponsors research presentations and colloquia, provides funds to support pilot research projects, and identifies novel funding. In addition, the center assists with the development and submission of proposals for external funding of major multi-investigator equipment, (b) provides and maintains readily accessible multi-user equipment facilities, and (c) facilitates access to specialized facilities and services. In addition to supporting and promoting collaborations among its members, the center facilitates interactions between members and other institutions, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and promotes access to biomedical research equipment within the center. |
Low Temperature Silicon Film Deposition By Pulsed Cathodic Arc Process for Microsystem Technology  Researchers at Michigan Tech demonstrated for the first time the deposition of doped silicon films by pulsed cathodic vacuum arc techniques. The development of silicon thin films is attractive for many applications in the field of microelectronics and micromechanics such as thin film transistors, solar cells devices, and structural elements in microelectromechanical system (MEMS). The production of MEMS device quality silicon film materials at low temperature would further enable the integration of microsystems with microelectronics. To meet a growing variety of device technology requirements, attention is given to the processing methods to control the materials' growth and properties. As a technique for high quality film growth, cathodic vacuum arc deposition is characterized by low deposition temperature, high deposition rate, relatively low operational cost and high-energy process capabilities due to the nature of arc plasma discharge.
The direct current (D.C.) and pulsed current vacuum arc comprise two approaches implemented for film deposition. Compared with D.C. arc, pulsed arc has the advantages of higher ion energies and higher deposition rate as well as the reduction of macro droplets intrinsically associated with the cathodic arc process. However, two main issues limit the utilization of vacuum arc on silicon material. One is that the arc cannot be initiated on the intrinsic silicon unless it is heavily doped or is heated to increase the intrinsic electric conductivity substantially. The other problem with silicon is low thermal conductivity compared with most metals. The local heating at cathode spots and the resulting thermal shock can cause the silicon target to crack. Previous reports of cathodic vacuum arc on silicon film deposition were focused on the D.C. arc operation only. Pulsed technology is more appropriate for silicon cathodic arc deposition.
Compared with the D.C. arc process, more uniform target erosion and better control of the silicon spots were achieved by adjusting the pulsed arc current parameters. The deposition rate was high at 0.2nm/A.s in comparison with other available technologies. The microstructure of the films was dense with polycrystalline macro droplets embedded in an amorphous silicon matrix. |
MEMS Center in Wireless Integrated Microsystems A multi-university National Engineering Research Center in Wireless Integrated Microsystems funded by the National Science Foundation gives MTU a strong base for microtechnology research. Among its first projects, the center will design a next generation cochlear implant for which MTU will design and build a |
Coatings for Carbon Nanotubes Research allows attachment of polymers to carbon nanotubes in a manner that preserves their conductivity and strength while permitting the nanotubes to support sensors. Functional conjugated polymers are designed and synthesized to modify carbon nanotube electrodes via strong pi-pi stacking interaction between the polymers and the nanotubes. Artificial and biological receptors, such as enzyme, antibody, and single strand DNA can be incorporated into the synthetic functional conjugated polymers. Electrochemistry [labeled biosensors] is employed to detect chemical or biological recognition. |
Pedestrian Detection System This is a novel approach to vehicle warning systems. The system is “active” in the sense that it relies on the external objects to be avoided to communicate their presence to the vehicle on their own. In this approach, the external objects inform the car of their presence without the car having to directly search for them. The means by which this is accomplished in by a wireless signal that presumably each pedestrian would be giving out from their cellular phones. The car’s detection system would assume that wherever a cellular signal is present, so is a pedestrian. Additional objects that a driver would also want to avoid (such as a bridge), could be given the ability to also send a cellular signal to the car. |
Applied Mathematics Function to Map Evolutionary Processes This research is focused on fluid flow dynamics in porous material--more specifically in relation to nuclear waste contamination. It has recently been more focused on the development of mathematical models to predict disease progression, which includes HIV-1 dynamics, brain tumor progression, cholera colonization of the intestine, and early detection of specific antigens in the blood. While many of these projects are quite specific, the tools developed may be applied to mapping and predicting evolutionary processes in general. One of the projects that has spun out of the main effort focuses on the imaging, mapping, and progression prediction of brain cancer. The mathematical and statistical modeling is being integrated into a bioimplantable sensor for monitoring brain cancer. While this technology is still in a very early stage, it appears that there is at least a basic code that has been developed that is functional. Future work is focused on fine tuning the code and validating the brain cancer imaging and prediction function of the biosensors to allow for real time simulation. |
Embedded systems and Artificial Intelligence Derived Biosensor Devices This is application-driven research focused on the use of artificial intelligence and embedded systems in biosensors and imaging devices. One of the technologies that is being developed involves a device that traps and kills HIV infected cells. The device conceivably would be implanted into the lymph system and proactively recruit infected cells. Additionally, research is focused on a sensor to map the progression of brain cancer using 3-D mathematical modeling and an embedded systems approach. While these are early stage technologies, the architecture that enables functionality of the sensors involves the generation of a circuit without using a microprocessor. The research has yielded a way to use JAVA to create the circuit. This concept could have the potential to be used in a number of different applications, including wide use in the biosensor field. |
Location and Tracking Technology Development and Testing Service This is one of the few laboratories across the country that specializes in antenna location and tracking systems. Efforts are focused on developing and promoting a location technology development and research Center of Excellence. The Center will offer a research service component to advance the development and design of new products in the location and tracking space. In addition, the Center would become one of only ten facilities in the world to provide antenna testing facilities aimed at the automotive market. The program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. |
Center for Nanomaterials Research The Center for Nanomaterials Research is an interim center at Michigan Tech leading to a more comprehensive center focusing on the science and applications of technologies across many orders of dimensional magnitude and integrating nanotechnologies with microtechnologies and conventional systems. The interdisciplinary research can be summarized in three areas. The first is the modeling and development of room-temperature single electron transistors coupled with proteins to form nanosensors and electronics for sensing applications. These components are based on quantum effects that dominate at component sizes of approximately 10 nanometers or less. Biological proteins offer many sensing advantages including narrowly defined sensitivity, no power consumption, and self-assembly. The second area is the modeling and development of magnetic nanophotonic devices for optical communications and navigation systems. These devices literally grow and shrink under the influence of a magnetic field changing the transmission properties of light. These are efficient filters and modulators that can operate over a wide spectrum in a single device. The third area is the physical and functional integration of these devices with microscale and conventional systems through interconnection technologies. The electrical and mechanical behavior of connections that operate at both the nanoscale and microscale will be systematically evaluated. Component feature sizes may be as small as several nanometers in devices with dimensions of micrometers driving a system with dimensions of millimeters. The thrust of the center is to develop technologies that exploit the advantages of small size and low power of nanoscale components and yet retain the functionality of conventional-sized systems. |
Thermal Profiling of the Human Torso  This research project is designed to evaluate next-to-skin (NTS) fabrics on the human body under different environmental conditions and levels of activity. In addition, the project is constructed to use this information to develop a body-mapping process that will guide the development of a customized "second skin" (garment) to facilitate thermal transfer and to build a database of thermal images of the human torso that will allow for mass customization of individualized garments. |
Soft Computing and Embedded Systems This program of research is focused on two areas. The first involves the development of soft computing techniques and their applications to computer learning and pattern recognition. Specific research topics include classification and regression trees, fuzzy systems, global optimization algorithms, and fuzzy-neural computing. The second involves the development of an interactive, subroutine-threaded programming language for embedded systems. It also includes the study of issues related to the design of embedded systems including hardware/software co-design, microcontrollers, and FPGA synthesis using VHDL. |
Ionic Liquid Chemical Sensing Devices This technology emerged from a long-term effort devoted to developing piezobiosensors and electrochemical sensors for detection in complex environments. The technology is designed to detect chemicals using novel ionic liquid technology. Critical features of the technology include: (1) methods to immobilize ionic liquids on solid supports, (2) capabilities for characterizing and elucidating the physicochemical properties of immobilized ionic liquids, (3) new ionic liquids incorporating functional groups capable of acting as anchors or tags for surface immobilization, and (4) ionic liquid thin films for array-based gas sensing and high-temperature gas sensing. |
Networks for Distributed Sensor Processing This is a research program with specific applications in sensor networks. General research capabilities include statistical sensor array processing, adaptive filtering, target tracking, Bayesian inference, and decision network theory and applications. The research is focused on ultra-wideband wireless communications, cognitive radio networks, distributed sensor processing and networking, including synchronization and channel equalization, multi-user and distributed detection, MIMO systems, dynamic spectrum access, and information fusion for sensor networks. |
Sensor, Ad Hoc and Wireless Network Security and Vulnerability This research and technology development program is focused on sensor networks including issues related to vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET), wireless ad hoc networks and sensor networks, cross-layer network design, dependable computing and communication systems, as well as network resource allocation & management. Most recent activity has been focused on tireless network security: cyber security assessment, systematic security design as well as vulnerability analysis and trust models for wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. |
Robotics and Embedded Systems Laboratory The robotics and embedded systems laboratory conducts research on large scale networked system of distributed robotics and sensors, body sensor networks and sensor network applications in intelligent transportation systems. Current lines of inquiry include scalable coordination for hybrid sensor/actuator networks, multi-robot and sensor coordination, body sensor networks, sensor network localization using mobile robots, mobile sensor navigation in hybrid sensor networks, and real-time protocols for sensor networks. |
Electronic structure and transport properties of thermoelectric materials This work is focused on computational condensed matter physics and materials science, in particular the electronic structure problem in semiconductors and complex materials. Computers are used as powerful microscopes to investigate the quantum properties that technology exploits to build new solid state devices. Solar cells, lasers and IR-detectors use semiconductor materials that are created ad hoc to optimize functions like light emission and detection. The research is aimed at optimizing the interesting properties of these materials by performing both semi-empirical and first principles calculations. |
Numerical Speedup Using Flowpaths Applications for computer simulations include many research areas such as weather prediction, tracking the location and concentrations of contaminants in groundwater, oil recovery, studying disease processes, designing experiments, and developing medications. In these and several other applications, it is desirable to achieve speedup of numerical code. Current work in speeding up numerical simulations has several disadvantages. Considering the various disadvantages of each method, project will develop methods that increases the speed and (1) does not require rewriting an existing algorithm, although could be improved even further by making minor coding modification, (2) does not require algorithms written in traditional languages to be rewritten in other language, (3) executes portions of the code in parallel but does not suffer from the overhead of either a single microprocessor or multi-processor architecture, and (4)does not require time and effort to engineer and implement a special circuit for different types of numerical algorithms. This work proposes to develop such a technology using flowpaths where, starting with a C (or potentially FORTRAN) description of a numerical algorithm, a compiler will generate an executable that can be downloaded and will run on the Power PC embedded in an FPGA with parallel flowpaths to speedup the bottleneck loops in the numerical algorithm automatically.
With such a speed-up, some simulations that require real-time execution that can not currently be achieved by a PC will be able to run at a higher speed and achieve a real-time pace. The success of this research will result in future investigation including deriving optimizations for the compiler and resulting circuits, improving numerical schemes for optimal implementation in hardware and enhancing the compiler to support other popular languages.
The intellectual merit of this research project from a scientific computational standpoint lies in the discovery of new coding techniques that make optimal use of flowpaths in order to achieve higher simulation speeds. The intellectual merit in hardware design for speedup lies in the unique use of flowpaths for creating special-purpose processors for new and existing numerical code, automatically. This project serves as a novel interdisciplinary approach, combining expertise in scientific computation of numerical algorithms and high-speed embedded systems for significantly increasing the performance of numerical code, with impact both in software as well as in hardware technologies. |
Automotive Antenna Measurement Instrumentation This project creates a near-field antenna measurement system, for use in research and education on automobile antennas. The system will be a spherical near-field antenna measurement system capable of measuring on-vehicle antenna performance in the frequency range 800 MHz to 6 GHz for a variety of vehicle platforms. Major components include: (1) positioning and control equipment, which controls the motion of the vehicle platform; (2) signal source and receiver component, which generates the radio frequency test signal and measures the coupling between the desired source antenna and the antenna under test; and (3) the data collection and processing component. The research will involve vehicle-level measurement techniques, development of mathematical models for on-vehicle antennas and vehicle-integrated antenna designs. This equipment allows Oakland to contribute to the growing field of automotive telematics, which has relevance to safety (e.g. broadcasting location and occurrence of events like collisions and airbag deployment), to security operations (e.g. track or disable stolen vehicles), and to convenience (e.g., concierge services, navigation assistance, etc.). Industrial collaborations and support will be major aspects of this project. The equipment will also be used heavily in undergraduate education, in student training, and in outreach to minorities in the Pontiac, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan public schools. |
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