| Program Desciption: |
The MINOTAUR Project is concerned with developing micro- and nano-scale
technologies for modern automotive research. These technologies
are expected to significantly enhance the driving experience, increase
performance and increase safety. Technologies in development
include
MEMS Strain Sensors to directly measure automobile chassis forces, SiC
sensors for harsh environment sensing, nanowire gas sensors with
increased sensitivity, long
range IR detection, improved fuel delivery and MEMS/NEMS
integration efforts. It is anticipated that these technologies
will be utilized for individual combustion cylinder control sensors,
improved vehicle dynamic response and monitoring, pedestrian detection
in the automotive scene, multimedia
auxilliary power and other automotive applications.
New requirements for modern automotive sensors include reduced cost and
ease of manufacture, higher performance, greater robustness, and new
and improved sensor modes. The introdution of micro- and
nanotechnologies offers enhanced sensitivity and bandwidth, thermal,
shock and chemical resistance. The small scale of the sensors
allows direct measurement of data, reducing the use of predictive and
iterative computer models to infer the measurand. Lastly, MEMS
offers an effective means of integrating nanostructures into the
sensors themselves.
|
 |
|
