Mar 5 2011
The Smart System Technology & Commercialization Center of Excellence (STC) at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE)of the University at Albany will invest $6 million to design, build and use nano sensors for strategic applications in the defense and power sectors.
STC has signed a $3 million agreement with the San Diego, California-based U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), to design, build and test multiple sensor technologies. The sensors will help the armed forces to gather more sensitive information during warfare.
The technologies will incorporate various circuits and have intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, inertial and acoustic sensors. The components will harvest energy, thus proving cost- efficient. They will also feature opto-electro-mechanical units and resistive heaters.
STC is also collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) of Palo Alto in developing a wireless sensor that will monitor component vibration that can cause damage in high-speed energy outputting equipment. The unit will save installation, maintenance and repair costs. They will provide enhanced security. STC will also enter into a $3 million agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to design a full system to monitor blades in steam and wind turbines, helicopters, jet engines and turbines that fuel ships and submarines.
Both the products will be implemented at STC’s facilities with support from CNSE’s capabilities at Albany NanoTech Complex, a research and development company.