Kristofer S.J. Pister (Advisor)

As artificial intelligence and edge computing industries continue to expand, there is a growing demand for adaptive wireless sensors capable of high-precision and low-power data acquisition. Recent studies in sensing interfaces have achieved uV-level precision with uW-level of power per channel. Among various architectures, VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator)-based structure draws attention due to its compact area and scalability with advanced technology nodes. However, inherent VCO nonidealities such as V-F nonlinearity and PVT variations, limit the maximal achievable SNDR and dynamic...

This project focuses on the design, fabrication, and development of a six-axis electrostatically levitated mass system. While electrostatic levitation has been previously demonstrated, the emphasis here is on achieving a compact form factor (10 cm × 10 cm), reduced power consumption (0.5 W), and increased levitated mass capacity. The proof mass is suspended using a system of actuation electrodes: four top electrodes provide levitation and control of vertical displacement (z-axis) as well as rotation about the x- and y-axes, while six side electrodes control lateral motion (x- and y-...

We aim to develop a family of autonomous silicon-based robotic insects that integrate actuation, computation, and power within a single platform. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device serves as the foundation, enabling electrostatic actuators that drive silicon linkages fabricated directly in the device layer. Electrostatic actuation provides a key advantage at the microscale, offering low power consumption suitable for energy harvesting and autonomous operation. Computation and communication are enabled by the Single Chip Micro Mote (SCuM, BPN803), while a Zappy2 chip with integrated solar...

This project aims to develop a 130 nm mixed-signal CMOS system-on-chip (SoC) Test Vehicle that can subsequently be combined with thin-film piezoelectric materials to create an integrated, single-chip wireless IoT platform. The SoC, which includes a RISC-V microprocessor, a Bluetooth Low-Energy radio, and sensor interface electronics, is designed for minimal power consumption and wide operating voltage range. In addition to these core functions, the CMOS Test Vehicle will feature specialized interface circuits - including a sustaining amplifier for piezoelectric timing oscillators, a...