Communications of the ACM
Micromachines For a Safer World
Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers are working to make microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) even smaller, less expensive, and more sensitive by combining old-school mechanics with advanced electrical engineering. "The widespread penetration of miniature MEMS sensors into the devices surrounding us is transforming our way of life," says the university's Slava Krylov.
Krylov and doctoral student Assaf Ya'akobovitz have demonstrated how amplification techniques developed at their lab can be used for improving the performance of micro-accelerometers. Krylov's device uses a tiny electrode, a silicon chip, and a mechanical transformer coupled with an optical sensor to amplify the smallest changes in motion and acceleration. He says the technology could be used in iPhones as motion sensors, and in high-end navigation devices for airplanes and missiles.
Eventually, Krylov says the technology could be used to help harvest clean energy and in medical applications.
From American Friends of Tel Aviv University
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