MEMS and Microsystems

In a project funded by National Geographic, ECE researchers are teaming up with the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology to advance our understanding of monarch butterfly migration with the most ambitious iteration of the Michigan Micro Mote yet.

Prof. Yogesh Gianchandani and Dr. Yutao Qin received an “Outstanding Paper Award” for their fully electronic micro gas chromatography system.

Prof. Euisik Yoon and his team are recognized for their work designing low-noise, multisite/multicolor optoelectrodes that will help neurologists learn more about neural connectivity in the brain.

The WAND wireless sensor developed in a collaboration between Total, an oil & gas company, and the University of Michigan is revolutionizing well monitoring

PhD student Ester Bentley designs smaller, better 3D mechanical resonators for use in high-performance gyroscopes to help unmanned systems navigate when GPS signal is jammed or lost.

To improve the prediction and identification of stem-like cancer cells, Prof. Euisik Yoon’s group developed a method that is 3.5 times faster than the standard approach.

It will now be possible to study brain activity when timing is important, such as the consolidation of memory.

Accurate gyroscopes are a bottleneck for backup navigation systems in autonomous vehicles.

Blaauw’s innovations in low-power computing led to development of the Michigan Micro Mote, the world’s smallest computer.

Prof. Euisik Yoon and his team developed a new machine learning tool that enables large-scale testing of cancer drug effectiveness with microfluidics.

Pioneering computer technology that is spurring innovation and disruption across industries has earned David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester, professors of electrical engineering and computer science, this year’s Distinguished University Innovator Award.

Cancer biologists and engineers collaborated on a device that could help predict the likelihood of breast cancer metastasis.

Capturing cancer cells from blood samples offers a non-invasive way to observe whether the cancer is disappearing or whether it is becoming resistant to the treatment.

New device caught more than three times as many cancer cells as conventional blood draw samples.

Subscription service offers real-time monitoring

Keeping time in the Internet of Things with frequency scaling

The latest from IBM and now the University of Michigan is redefining what counts as a computer at the microscale.

A solar cell combined with a camera sensor collects photons to provide electricity.

The Wise-Najafi Prize for Engineering Excellence in the Miniature World will recognize and incentivize outstanding research and scholarship related to engineering at the meso-scale, micron-scale, nano-scale and beyond.

A new NSF Tech Hub will put tools to rapidly advance our understanding of the brain into the hands of neuroscientists.

Alumnus Kukjin Chun receives the highest national honor for a Korean scientist and engineer.

Michigan engineers release individual cells from a specially-designed chip using laser pulses.

Some believed early Michigan brain researchers were engaging in “science fiction” – until development of an advanced tool for forging breakthroughs proved them wrong.

A new tool for making sense of the cells believed to cause cancer relapses and metastases.

IPAN sent eight undergraduates to Germany for a month of lab work, learning about the intricacies of the brain.

ICAN bring engineers and neuroscientists together to review the recent advancement in neurotechnology and neuroscience, define the need for next-generation tools, and enhance the translation of technology to the scientific community.

A pilot program will bring together researchers from different universities to collaborate on advancing research that may lead to a better understanding of the human brain.

MEMStim’s technology is already two phases into pre-clinical testing in preparation for FDA examination. Very few MEMS devices have made it this far.

The paper describes a tunable filter for wireless communication modules in the x-band frequency range that uses germanium-telluride phase change switches.

Dr. Nader Najafi is now leading the development of some of the most advanced micro-scale medical technology in the world.

Why do some cancer cells break away from a tumor and travel to distant parts of the body? A team of oncologists and engineers from the University of Michigan teamed up to help understand this crucial question.

The goal of the project is to augment the transmission of audio and video with the sense of touch.

The IEEE Daniel E. Noble award is a Technical Field Award, which is among the highest awards given.

Tal is researching fabrication techniques for a micro rate-integrating gyroscope, using a vacuum mold and blowtorch.

The paper reports on the design, fabrication, and results of a directly heated phase change RF switch using germanium telluride.

Rais-Zadeh’s devices are expected to enable sensors for use in harsh environment, high-speed wireless communications, and more.

Chris develops and tests control systems for MEMS inertial sensors, which are used to detect acceleration, tilt, and other attributes related to motion sensing.

One promising area of cancer treatment is photodynamic therapy, which combines the agents of a photosensitive drug, light, and oxygen.

The inventor of Google Glass is now developing glucose monitoring contact lenses.

Prof. Najafi is a world-recognized leader in the field of integrated sensors, MEMS, and microsystems.

The three microdevices created at Michigan are each particularly suited to specific applications.

The research group developed special fabrication processes that allows them to stack and bond seven different devices in layers.

“We present a novel strategy to scale up the number of electrodes with minimized risk.”

This research is targeted at developing a precision master clock for a chip-scale Timing and Inertial Measurement Unit.

“This workshop is a first step toward developing a roadmap for practical innovations in nano/micro-manufacturing.”

McCullagh is working to develop energy harvesting devices and circuits to power wireless sensor nodes which can monitor bridge health.

Though a number of research challenges remain to realize the potential of microdischarge-based devices, the authors’ work demonstrates their promise.

The technical topics ranged from wireless and low power circuits, to MEMS, to microfabricated gas chromatographs.

The implant is called the BioBolt, and unlike other neural interface technologies that establish a connection from the brain to an external device such as a computer, it’s minimally invasive and low power.

The researchers have built a complete system that integrates a high-quality energy-harvesting piezoelectric material with the circuitry that makes the power accessible.

MEMStim is committed to improving the standard of patient care in neurostimulation. Congratulations, Angelique!

Wise is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in sensor technology as well as a MEMS pioneer and entrepreneur.

The WIMS has impacted health care, environmental monitoring, the national infrastructure while CUOS specializes in ultrafast lasers.

The energy-harvesting devices are highly efficient at providing renewable electrical power from arbitrary, non-periodic vibrations.

The competition was established by DTE Energy and the University of Michigan to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of clean-energy technologies.

The research has applications in health care, environmental monitoring, security, energy conservation and exploration, and more.