Device also could power homes A UT
Rao’s works in micro-robotic
devices initially heightened a Taiwanese company’s interest in having Rao and
Chiao brainstorm over novel device designs and applications for the company’s
unique fabrication techniques, which are known in the semiconductor industry for
their reliability.
“The company was quite surprised with the
micro-windmill idea when we showed the demo video of working devices,” Rao said.
“It was something completely out of the blue for them and their
investors.”
Rao’s designs blend origami concepts into conventional
wafer-scale semiconductor device layouts so complex 3-D moveable mechanical
structures can be self-assembled from two-dimensional metal pieces utilizing
planar multilayer electroplating techniques that have been optimized by
“The micro-windmills work well because
the metal alloy is flexible and Smitha’s design follows minimalism for
functionality.” Chiao said.
WinMEMS became interested in the
micro-electro mechanical system research and started a relationship with UT
An agreement has been established for UT
Currently, WinMEMS has been showcasing UT Arlington’s works on
its website and in public presentations, which include the micro-windmills,
gears, inductors, pop-up switches and grippers. All of those parts are as tiny
as a fraction of the diameter of a human hair.
These inventions are
essential to build micro-robots that can be used as surgical tools, sensing
machines to explore disaster zones or manufacturing tools to assemble
micro-machines.
“It’s very gratifying to first be noticed by an
international company and second to work on something like this where you can
see immediately how it might be used,” said Rao, who earned her Ph.D in 2009 at
UT
The micro windmills were tested successfully in
“The problem most MEMS
designers have is that materials are too brittle,” Rao said. “With the nickel
alloy, we don’t have that same issue. They’re very, very durable.”
The
micro-windmills can be made in an array using the batch processes. The
fabrication cost of making one device is the same as making hundreds or
thousands on a single wafer, which enables for mass production of very
inexpensive systems.
“Imagine that they can be cheaply made on the
surfaces of portable electronics,” Chiao said, “so you can place them on a
sleeve for your smart phone. When the phone is out of battery power, all you
need to do is to put on the sleeve, wave the phone in the air for a few minutes
and you can use the phone again.”
Chiao said because of the small sizes,
flat panels with thousand of windmills could be made and mounted on the walls of
houses or building to harvest energy for lighting, security or environmental
sensing and wireless communication.
He added that it has been fulfilling
to see his former student succeed and help move innovation toward the
marketplace.
“To see a company recognize that and seek you out for your
expertise speaks volumes about what UT
The
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Technology uses micro-windmills to recharge cell phones
January 10, 2014
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