Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems - Week 6

One area of research that may become the breakthrough technology in the near future is Micromachines, also called Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) (Halal, 2008).  These are tiny electro-mechanical devices that can perform functions in very small applications.  They are so small that they are produced using photolithography and etching to build the device in layers.  Besides the mechanical nature of the devices, they also generally contain a small microcontroller which is used to control the device and take feedback measurements.

MEMS Video

Some of the uses of MEMS technology include inertial sensors, actuators, accelerometers and gyroscopes (Sandia National Labs, 2008).  There are also biological and fluid oriented MEMS devices which can sample fluids on a micro scale.  MEMS technology can also be used to create tiny resonators and oscillators.  MEMS devices are also making breakthroughs in the field of optics.

MEMS Drive Gears





 MEMS Optical Shutter

 The future for this kind of device appears to be bright as devices become smaller and smarter.  There is speculation that some MEMS devices may be made to be smaller than a grain of sand and be able to transmit RF messages to communicate with a host (Halal, 2008). There is no reason to doubt the future of MEMS devices because its development follows the same trend as silicon devices.  One force that will determine the future of MEMS is technological.  There are limitations on MEMS capabilities just like there are limits on silicon technology.  This means that miniaturization will continue to a point and then hit a wall as it approaches atomic limits.  Another force will be economic.  Certain fields of endeavor have nearly unlimited budgets to research and develop MEMS technology including defense and to some extend medical applications. As the government budgets tighten, however, this may slow down research efforts.

 

References

Halal, W. E. (2008). Technology's Promise. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.

Sandia National Labs. (2008). MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS). Retrieved November 5, 2012, from Sandia National Laboratories: http://www.mems.sandia.gov/