HIGHLY VERSATILE MULTILAYER TACTILE SENSOR AR- RAYS-

TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND TO REMOVE HUMAN WORKERS FROM HAZARDOUS ENVIRON- MENTS, MORE SOPHISTICATED, ECONOMICAL ROBOTS WILL BE NEEDED. SPECIFICALLY, THESE MACHINES WILL BE GENERAL- PURPOSE DEVICES (EITHER STATIONARY OR MOBILE, E.G., AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES) CAPABLE OF BEING READILY RE- PLETELY DISPERSED SILICA PARTICLES. THE CERMET WILL PRODUCE A CASTABLE AND RECASTABLE MATERIAL THAT RE- TAINS THE DESIRABLE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BULK GOLD SUCH AS CORROSION PROTECTION AND LOW ELECTRICAL CON- TACT RESISTANCE BUT WITH IMPROVED PROPERTIES SUCH AS HARDNESS AND CLOD FLOW, AND HAS THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF USING 30% LESS GOLD. THE PRINCIPAL GOAL IS TO PRODUCE SLUGS OF COMPRESSED GOLD-SILICA POWDER THAT CAN BE USED TO EXTEND GOLD-GOLD ALLOY MELTS. THE RESULTANT GOLD CERMETS WILL HAVE A FULLY WETTED, DISPERSED SILICA CONTENT OF 20% TO 30% BY VOLUME. THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PHASE II PROGRAM WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES REQUIRED FOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, FABRICATION REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE (BULK AND DRY CIRCUIT), DUCTILITY (FOR DIE DRAWING), ABRASIVE RESISTANCE (CONNECTOR MATE AND DEMATE), SUBSTRATE DIFFUSION RESISTANCE, AND OTHER TESTS INDICATED BY MIL-C-39029 (MILITARY CONNECTOR CONTACT STANDARD). THE SECOND YERA OF PHASE II WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROCESS TO PROVIDE DATA FOR A COMMERCIAL RODUCING PILOT PLANT TO BE SET UP DURING PHASE III OF THE PROGRAM.