College opens expanded Smart Sensors lab
Wayne State University, along with partner, Delphi Corp. (NYSE: DPH), today opened a new state-of-the-art clean room for research and development of micro-electrical-mechanical (MEMS) technology expected to yield many wondrous applications for medicine, the environment, transportation and communications.
The new 4,000 square-foot clean room, part of the Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems (SSIM) laboratories at the WSU College of Engineering, gives the facility the ability to realize and manufacture prototype devices from basic research to production. The facility is capable of producing novel types of smart sensors in significantly less time than the typical university R & D setting.
Troy-based Delphi donated the $7.1 million in clean room equipment and has assigned several of its scientists and a lab technician to the Wayne State facility. Delphi will utilize the equipment for research programs in automotive and new market technologies. Two of the Delphi researchers will also serve as adjunct faculty in the College of Engineering.
"Research at Wayne State University continues to benefit all areas of human life, but we are especially proud to announce important enhancements to our Smart Sensor and Integrated Microsystems lab, which is poised to contribute remarkable breakthroughs that will improve our lives," said WSU President Irvin D. Reid. "We are grateful to have the involvement of such a distinguished global partner as Delphi. Delphi's R&D capabilities, its reputation, and the resources they are allocating are an invaluable asset."
Researchers at the Wayne State Smart Sensors lab are developing novel micro-devices they hope will:
Another SSIM lab project that has recevied attention recently is work on a hand-held pathogen monitor able to instanlty detect bacteria in food and water, and lethal gases and air-borne viruses in the field.
The SSIM lab has assembled a multi-disciplinary team of faculty experts, outside institutions and corporate partners who collaborate closely on a multitude of projects. Major health care partners are the Wayne State School of Medicine and the Kresge Eye Institute, Children's Hospital, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Delphi, Ford Motor Co., and Fraunhofer USA are major industrial partners.
"We're proud to partner with Wayne State on such an important initiative," said Dr. Andrew Brown, Jr., director of engineering at Delphi. "The partnership between Delphi and Wayne State in this Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems lab is one that we believe will add new momentum to technological advancement in Southeastern Michigan."
Ralph Kummler, interim dean of engineering, said, "Wayne State University is a major stop along the Michigan Science Corridor. We are looking at a great opportunity here to capitalize on the collection of bio-tech businesses in the new Wayne State Technology Park."
The SSIM lab was established in 1992 under the direction of Greg Auner, professor of electrical and computer engineering. It quickly established itself developing novel types of micro-devices and micro-machining techniques. Auner's choice early on to use non-conventional sensor materials, particularly silicon carbide, which tolerates extremely high temperature environments, opened avenues for the researchers to develop smart sensors with diverse applications.
Delphi is a world leader in mobile electronics and transportation components and systems technology. Multi-national Delphi conducts its business operations through various subsidiaries and has headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Delphi's two business sectors - Dynamics, Propulsion and Thermal Sector and Electrical, Electronics, Safety & Interior Sector - provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs. Delphi has approximately 192,000 employees and operates 176 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 42 joint ventures, 53 customer centers and sales offices and 32 technical centers in 41 countries. Delphi can be found on the Internet at www.delphi.com.