Energy Harvesting Technologies for
Wireless MEMS Sensor Networks with a Focus on Mechanical
Vibration-to-Electrical Power Generation
Edward S. Kolesar, PhD, P.E., W.A.
Moncrief Professor of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Mail Stop 298640
Telephone: (817) 257-6226; -7126
Telefax:
(817) 257-7704
Email:
e.kolesar@tcu.edu
ABSTRACT: The intriguing concept of a new paradigm of
ultra-small, autonomous, intelligent MEMS devices for wireless sensor networks
is poised to become a significant enabling technology for many application
sectors, from human-health monitoring to highly-distributed systems for safety
and environmental data collection. A few very low-power wireless MEMS sensor
platforms have recently entered the marketplace. Almost all of these platforms
are designed to run on batteries that have a very limited lifetime. In order
for wireless MEMS sensor networks to become truly autonomous and a ubiquitous
part of our environment, alternative power sources must be found. This
presentation explores the techniques and challenges of harvesting energy from
several ambient sources that appear to be suitable for powering wireless MEMS
sensor networks. Well-established power sources, such as batteries, are
reviewed along with emerging technologies and currently untapped energy
sources, such as the conversion of mechanical vibration to electrical power.
Power sources are classified as energy reservoirs, power distribution methods,
or power scavenging methods, which enable wireless MEMS sensor nodes to be
completely self-sustaining. Several ambient energy sources capable of providing
electrical power on the order of 100 µW/cm3 with very long lifetimes
are feasible. No single ambient energy source will likely suffice for all MEMS
sensor networks, and the choice of a power source will ultimately be determined
by the specific application.
BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Kolesar had a
20-year professional career as a commissioned officer in the United States Air
Force. During this time he became
devoted to the design, fabrication, modeling and experimental characterization
of microsensors and microactuators.
Before retiring with the rank of Professor, he served on the faculty and
as Vice Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB,
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Noise and Reliability of High-k Gate Stacks
Zeynep Celik-Butler, Ph.D.
Electrical Engineering Department
NanoFAB center
ABSTRACT: As
the devices scale down, even though the absolute noise magnitude gets smaller,
since the voltages also scale down, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases. Noise
models developed for large area devices based on the large-number-electron
averaging theories break down. The lack of accurate models leads the process
and circuit designer either to adapt large area-transistor models with high
errors or to use a trial-and-error method leading to significant waste of
valuable time.
ITRS2003
identified “Gate stack processes and materials” as one its grand challenges for
performance enhancement in the near-term (≤yr2009). In MOSFETs, high
dielectric constant (high-k) materials are developed as possible replacements
for SiO2 as the gate dielectric. Although these materials do
overcome the issue of gate leakage current due to increased dielectric
thickness for a given equivalent dielectric capacitance, several other problems
arise, such as the increased trap density at the silicon interface. This is
evidenced by the reduced carrier mobilities and the emergence of a “kink” in
the C-V characteristics. A large number of candidates are currently being
evaluated by several companies for their material and threshold voltage
stability, hysteretic electrical characteristics, breakdown, and dielectric
properties. Although dielectric charging and increased interface trap density
are observed, the effect of these on the noise characteristics and carrier
mobility, and the reason for these states are not known. In addition to the
effect of interface states and dielectric traps, there is evidence that remote
phonon scattering, which is intrinsically associated with the high dielectric
constant, limits the mobility of carriers in the channel. If this is in deed
the case, decrease in carrier mobility will be unavoidable with the use of
high-k materials.
The talk will
cover noise and mobility degradation issues in high-k gate stacks.
BIOGRAPHY: Zeynep Çelik-Butler is Professor of
Electrical Engineering and Director of Nanotechnology Research and Teaching
Facility at the
She served in various technical committees
including 1988, 1989 IEEE-IEDM's and Annual Symposia on Electronic Materials,
Processing and Characterization (1989 - 1992) and International Conference on
Noise in Physical Systems and 1/f Fluctuations (1993, 1999, 2001). She was the General Chair of TEXMEMS II
Workshop. She was the co-Chairman for the SPIE Conf. on Noise in Devices and
Circuits in the Symp. on Fluctuation and Noise (FaN'2003) and the symposium
co-chair for the same symposium in 2005 (FaN’2005). Currently, she is an editor
for Fluctuation and Noise Letters.
Prof. Çelik-Butler has received several
awards including the IEEE-Dallas Section Electron Devices Society Outstanding
Service Awards (1995, 1997), IEEE - Electron Devices Society, Service
Recognition Award (1995), Outstanding Electrical Engineering Graduate Faculty
Awards (1996, 1997, 2001), and SMU- Sigma Xi Research Award (1997). Her
research interests include microelectromechanical systems, infrared detectors,
noise in semiconductor and superconductor devices, and high Tc-superconductivity.
She has four patents, four book chapters, and over 130 journal and conference
publications in these fields. Dr. Çelik -
Dr. Çelik-Butler is a senior member of IEEE,
member of Eta Kappa Nu, and the American Physical Society. She is a
Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE-Electron Devices Society.
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Human Simulator
Bruce Dubin,
D.O., J.D.
Associate Dean,
TCOM Academic Affairs
University of
ABSTRACT: The
use of medical simulation models and computers in medical education provides a
unique opportunity for future physicians to practice and test their diagnostic
skills and perform “high risk” procedures on computerized simulated mannequins. During this presentation, the Dr. Dubin will
discuss the use and outcomes of The Human Patient Simulator (HPS) – a
computer-model-driven - full-sized mannequin – that delivers experience in
true-to-life scenarios that swiftly change to meet educational goals. The ultra
sophisticated and highly versatile HPS blinks, speaks and breathes, has a
heartbeat and a pulse, and accurately mirrors human responses to such
procedures as CPR, intravenous medication, intubation, ventilation, and
catheterization. This simulator can be programmed to match the physiologic
parameters of any patient and most medical emergencies. The use of these simulators and their
incorporated technology allows medical school faculty to perform “summative
examinations” of students in simulated real life scenarios. Dr. Dubin will discuss the methods of using
this technology as well as outcomes that demonstrate enhanced educational
results and improved student satisfaction with medical simulation techniques as
a teaching and testing tool.
BIOGRAPHY:
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Questions and Answers with
Keynote
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"Submarine-Launched
and Recovered Multi- Purpose UAV (MPUAV) Concept and Project Overview"
Robert A
Ruszkowski, Jr.
Aeronautical
Engineer Senior Staff
Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company
ABSTRACT: The
Lockheed Martin Submarine-Launched & Recovered Multi-Purpose Unmanned Air
Vehicle (MPUAV) is a unique concept to extend the capabilities of the
newly-modified OHIO-Class SSGN submarines, as well as surface ships such as the
new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). It could enable renewable, unmanned air
operations for long-range, survivable, all-weather reconnaissance, battle
damage assessment, or specialized mission support in a broad spectrum of operations.
In particular, the combination of a stealthy SSGN submarine platform and a
survivable MPUAV air vehicle could introduce new capabilities to support future
joint warfighting operations in high-threat scenarios…from under the sea.
This presentation provides a brief outline of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company “Skunk Works”, which is the organization that is responsible for the inception and development of the MPUAV concept. An overview of the MPUAV system concept is given that highlights the unique design challenges and approaches associated with an advanced UAV that is capable of repeated immersed launch and recovery operations at sea. In particular, specific features and systems that would enable immersibility, effective mission management, and submerged recovery operations are addressed. An animation depicting the launch, notional mission, and recovery of the MPUAV is also included.
Additionally, this presentation includes a discussion of the MPUAV Phase 1 Project that was awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in May of 2005. This 16-month effort will address critical technical aspects of the overall MPUAV system concept. Key risk reduction demonstrations will include submerged docking tests using a full-scale, instrumented MPUAV mock-up/test article. The results of the Phase 1 Project could lead to further development of the MPUAV system concept.
BIOGRAPHY: Robert A Ruszkowski, Jr. is a Senior Staff
Engineer and Designer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company with 20 years of
experience in Advanced Development Programs. Currently, he is the Project and
Technical Lead for the Submarine-Launched and Recovered MPUAV team. He has
served as the lead designer for numerous advanced aircraft studies and
programs. Mr. Ruszkowski also holds three
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Testing Object-Oriented Software and
Web-Based Applications
Dr. David
Kung
The
Computer Science
and Engineering Dept.
The
Tel: (817)
272-3627, Fax: (817) 272-3784
Email:
kung@cse.uta.edu
ABSTRACT: The
object-oriented (OO), web-based computing paradigm is becoming the de facto
paradigm for software development. The OO paradigm holds the promise to
significantly increase software productivity and software quality while the web
provides a heterogeneous, distributed, and multilingual platform that is
available anywhere, any-time. However, the new features offered by OO and
web-based computing also raise challenging problems in software testing and
regression testing. This talk will present these testing problems and existing
research on testing OO software and web-based applications. The talk will cover
test order, change impact analysis, object state testing, use case testing, and
model-based web applications testing. In addition, we will describe and
demonstrate the OOTWorks software testing tool developed by the
BIOGRAPHY: Dr.
David Kung is a full professor of the Department of Computer Science and
Engineering at UTA. He is the director of the Software Engineering Research
Center and the Software Engineering Program. He has more than 25 years software
engineering experience working in academia and industry. He is in close contact
with numerous companies in terms of technical consulting, technology transfer,
training and research cooperation. He has worked in the area of testing OO
software and Web applications since 1992. He has published three books and over
a hundred technical articles in ACM, IEEE and other international journals and
conference proceedings. His research is funded by ONR, Texas Advanced
Technology Program (ATP), Texas Advanced Research Program (ARP), Texas
Technology Development and Transfer Program(TD&T) and numerous public
companies.