AN INEXPENSIVE MINIATURE POSITIONING INSTRUMENT FOR INTELLIGENT CONTROL SYSTEMS

SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR SYSTEMS THAT CAN CONTROL SUCH INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AS THOSE USED FOR THE INTELLIGENT CONTROL OF A ROBOT. THIS MULTIPHASE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL MINIATURE, LOW COST SPATIAL TRACKING (POSITIONING) INSTRUMENT TO BE USED IN INTELLIGENT CONTROL SYSTEMS. THIS INSTRUMENT UTILIZES MINIATURE SENSORS (MICROSENSORS) THAT ARE FABRICATED BY USING MICROMACHINING TECHNIQUES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PHASE I WORK IS TO DEFINE THE SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SENSORS, THEIR INTERFACE ELECTRONICS, AND A MICROPROCESSOR SUITABLE TO DEVELOP THE INSTRUMENT. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT PHASES OF THE PROGRAM, THE COMPONENTS DEFINED DURING PHASE I WILL BE BUILT, ASSEMBLED, AND TESTED. THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPING A NEW SOLID-STATE ANGULAR RATE SENSOR THAT MEETS THE IDENTIFIED REQUIREMENTS. THE DEVELOPED POSITIONING INSTRUMENT WILL BE COMMERCIALIZED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE JOINT VENTURE APPROACH. THE SELF-CONTAINED INSTRUMENT WILL BE SMALLER AND LIGHTER THAN ANY AVAILABLE POSITIONING INSTRUMENT WITH SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS. ITS PRODUCTION COST COULD BE SEVERAL TIMES LESS THAN THOSE OF SIMILAR SYSTEMS.