Using thousands of nanometer-scale wires, the researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a sensor device that converts mechanical pressure – from a signature or a fingerprint – directly into light signals that can be captured and processed optically. The sensor device could provide an artificial sense of touch, offering sensitivity comparable to…
How to improve heat dissipation in 3-D microelectronic systems
Heat continues to be a challenge with integrated circuit design. “There is really no good way to address the heat dissipation need with existing technology, and the problem is getting worse because computing power is increasing and the capabilities being put on chips are expanding,” said Yogendra Joshi, a professor in Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School…
Swimming with micron-sized robots
When you’re just a few microns long, swimming can be difficult. At that size scale, the viscosity of water is similar to honey, so momentum can’t be relied upon to maintain forward motion. While microorganisms have evolved ways to swim in spite of these challenges, tiny robots haven’t quite caught up. A team of researchers…