Role of MEMS and

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Role of MEMS and nanotechnology in homeland
security
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First of all, what is MEMS ?

• MEMS stands for Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.
  
• It is a technique of combining Electrical and
  Mechanical components together on a chip, to
  produce a system of miniature dimensions ..

• By miniature, we mean dimensions less than the
• thickness of human hair !!!!

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The wonder called nanotechnology

• Nanotechnology is the technology of arranging
  atoms and molecules in a material.
• This allows to alter the properties of a material
  and build structures of desired features.
• A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
• Nanotechnology makes it possible to manufacture
  devices 80,000 times smaller than the thickness
  of human hair !!

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A simple analogy..

• The atoms in an object can be compared to the
  blocks in a building game.
• In a building game, the blocks can be arranged to
  create different looking structures.
• Similarly, atoms can be arranged differently to
  produce a multitude of devices. This forms the
  basis of nanotechnology.

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Outline

• Introduction to MEMS technology
• Introduction to Homeland Security
• Application of MEMS to Homeland Security
• Military
• Biometric Identification
• Bio-terrorism
• Marine Security
• Conclusion

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Homeland Security

• Homeland Security refers to protection of
  territory, domestic population and critical
  infrastructure against external threats and
  aggression.
• September 11 attacks and the bio-terrorism
  threats have made Department of Homeland Security
  a focal point in defending the nation against
  terrorist attacks.

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Application of Mems in Homeland Security

• Homeland Defense Military Applications
• Biometric Identification Sensors
• Defense against Bio-terrorism
• Marine Security

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Military Applications of MEMS

• Development of agile and advanced military
  warfare
• Faster access to information in all domains
• AIR, SEA LAND

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MEMS based Optical Identification and
Communication Systems (MOICS)
http//www.tanner.com/Labs/research/technologies/m
oics/optical_comm.htm
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MOICS
This system would ensure secure communication
between sensors in Hazardous environment on
battlefields without use of expensive positioning
system.
Interrogate unit
Remote unit
MEMS Mirrors
http//mems.colorado.edu/c1.res.ppt/ppt/oe.review/
ppt.htm?
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Multisensor Microcluster

• This system includes micro-sensors for
  measurement of temperature, pressure, humidity
  and position.
• Applications
• Environmental Monitoring
• Health Monitoring

http//www.eecs.umich.edu/wise/Research/Overview/
Wise_Research.pdf
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MEMS POLYCHROMATOR
Imagine a soldier on a battlefield looking
through a pair of binoculars and detecting from
afar the nature of gas being emitted in a smoke
cloud. There's no need to obtain a sample of the
gas or even get close to it. Instead, the
detection is made from a safe one or two miles
away using a POLYCHROMATOR employing MEMS to
analyze the chemical Species.
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MEMS MAGNETOMETER

• MEMS magnetometer coupled with wireless systems
  can detect tanks, trucks or terrorists with
  weapons hiding in caves upto depths of 100 feet.
• MEMS Magnetometer sense change in earths Magnetic
  field without any drive current

http//www.ee.ucla.edu/research/judylab/research/j
effresearch/
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Navigation systems

• Global Hawk- High-altitude Unmanned Aerial
  Vehicle (UAV) employing MEMS accelerometer, was
  flown over battlefields in Iraq for obtaining
  detailed views of what was happening on the
  ground (surveillance).
• Development of Inertial Navigation systems using
  MEMS technology coupled with Global Positioning
  Systems (GPS) to accurately guide projectiles to
  target.

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Handheld Explosive Detectors

• Miniature micro-machined silicon cantilever
  structures coated with sensitive polymer that
  detect vapors given off by explosives
• Applications
• Explosive detection technology for airport
  and building
• Detection of land mines
• Environmental security
• Public safety applications.

Array of Cantilevers that bend in presence of
explosives
http//www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?doc
ument_id6637
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Detection of Land MinesSMART DUST

• Chemical sensors used for detection of land mines
  unlikely to be detected by Remote Sensing
  techniques.
• The suspected areas are crop dusted with sensors
  which react with target chemical to produce a
  fluorescent pattern later detected by light
  detection techniques.
• Advantage more reliable than other detection
  systems which have high false alarm rate.

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Pico-satellites
Use of Radio frequency MEMS Switches in
pico-satellites for communication with ground
based Antennas http//www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-7
/iss-1/p26.pdf
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MEMS in Biometrics
Fingerprint Identification
Facial Recognition
Iris and Retinal Identification
www.autostar.com.sg/ biometric_solution.html
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Biometric Identification

• Reliable, low cost and convenient method of
  uniquely identifying individuals by measuring
  certain physical and behavioral characteristics
• This sample is then compared with the template or
  signature, based on the same characteristics
  established as unique identity of that individual
  and stored in the security system
• Characteristics Finger prints, Palm prints,
  Retina and iris patterns, face patterns, voice,
  gait.

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Tactim

• Sensory receptors in the finger tip have the
  ability to produce unique personal sound wave
  specific to each individual.
• MEMS sensors are used to record the sound
  produced by the rubbing of the middle-fingertip
  of a person on a wooden plate, thereby providing
  an authentication system

www.tactim.com
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MEMS based Fingerprint Sensors

• Determines Finger surface structure independent
  of moisture conditions.
• The sensor is composed of an array of 60,000
  pixels, with each pixel having sensing circuit
  comprising 102 transistors.
• A finger ridge is detected as the result of
  mechanical deformation of each pixel

http//www.eetimes.com/at/news/OEG20011114S0068
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Defense against Bio-terrorism

• Recent bio-terrorism in the form of anthrax
  attacks demands sensors to detect the presence
  of biological weapons such as airborne bacteria,
  viruses and other
• pathogens
• Technology
• BioMems
• lab on a chip
• Nanotechnology

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Micro-Chem. Lab
http//www.sandia.gov/mstc/technologies/microanaly
tical/index.html
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Detection using µ-Chem lab

• A chemical signature -- or fingerprint -- is
  created by separating constituents with
  chromatography, a process of moving the mixture
  through separation channels containing a variety
  of materials. Within about a minute, a small
  display screen flashes the name and quantity of
  the components.
• The technique detects compounds at the part per
  billion level of concentrations.

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15 Minutes of FAME

• Advantage low power requirements, low cost,
  hand-held, and lightweight.

http//www.sandia.gov/mstc/technologies/microanaly
tical/analytic-system.html
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Electronic Tongue
www.utexas.edu/.../99oc_issues/
oc990120/oc_tongue2.html

• MEMS Sensors act as TASTE BUDS to identify
  chemical
  Components in Liquids
• Incorporates number of chemical sensors
  generating an electronic fingerprint of the
  tastes.

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Use of Nanotechnology

• Use of gold nano-particles to detect
  life-threatening bacteria and viruses such as
  anthrax and HIV
• This technique is used is used for detecting
  specific DNA sequences, the genetic material that
  defines life.

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Coastline and Port Security
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Bottom Stationed Ocean Profiler(BSOP)

• Development of a 10 by 7 foot Bottom Stationed
  Ocean Profiler - autonomous underwater vehicle
• Incorporates chemical, physical and biological
  micro-sensors monitoring the waters for toxins or
  explosives
• The profiler sits underwater, and surfaces on
  command to collect data and radio it back to the
  station.

http//isis2.admin.usf.edu/ur/usfmagazine/spring02
/rip1.html
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Torpedo activation using MEMS

• Torpedos generally carry a arming sensor that
  determines whether conditions are right for the
  torpedos to detonate.
• Mems device are incorporated as arming sensor
  that are integrated with signal processing
  electronics and algorithms that
• determine when to arm the torpedo
• Makes the torpedos target specific

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Conclusion

• MEMS and Nanotechnology are the trends enabling
  Homeland Security.
• Research and development in this field would
  provide means to anticipate, deter and defend
  against terrorist threats and secure our borders
  against any kind of aggression

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