| NSF Org: |
CNS Division Of Computer and Network Systems |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | July 25, 2014 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 25, 2014 |
| Award Number: | 1404909 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Reid Simmons
CNS Division Of Computer and Network Systems CSE Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2014 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2016 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $175,876.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $175,876.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE NM US 87131-0001 (505)277-4186 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
Albuquerque NM US 87106-4346 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | CCRI-CISE Cmnty Rsrch Infrstrc |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): |
|
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.070 |
ABSTRACT
This grant will support the development of a fabrication and testing facility for very small robotic micro-grippers that can grasp tiny quantities of bio-materials and measure important physical properties. For example, some of the grippers to be made will be small enough to grasp a single red blood cell (4 microns) and sensitive enough to measure its stiffness. Knowledge of the stiffness can be used to diagnose diseases (malaria, Dengue Fever, Chikugunya Fever, and others) for which vaccines do not exist and which are very dangerous if not diagnosed. In addition to helping with diagnosis, knowledge of mechanical properties and how they change over time can provide clues to guide the development of new vaccines.
The research will be conducted at the Microgripper Laboratory at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it will enable UNM faculty and students to explore new frontiers in micromanipulation. The planned research will exploit ionic polymer metal composite (IPMCs), which are highly active actuators that show very large deformation in the presence of low applied voltage. While this material continues to be electroactive at smaller and smaller scales, one challenge is to cut the IPMC material in a repeatable fashion to form the fingers of the microgripper. The Raptor II YAG laser supported by this grant will be used to cut microfingers from a sheet of IPMC material. A second challenge will be measuring the force that a microfinger generates to understand the finger shapes that are most suitable for specific applications. COMSOL multi-physical simulation software will be used to validate the engineering models needed to support prototype development.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
Note:
When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external
site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a
charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from
this site.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This grant supported equipment purchases for the Microgripper Lab at the University of New Mexico where we manufacture ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) microgrippers and measure their performance. The purchased equipment improves the capabilities of the lab in three ways. First, the equipment improves UNM’s ability to laser cut micro-materials to make microgripper fingers in the 5-20 micron range. Second, we are able to build a package to create a microgripper from the microfingers 3D printing technology. Finally, we can measure accurately the minute forces generated by these small microgrippers.
At this point in time, the Microgripper Lab can support many future directions. One relates to a medical application for microgrippers. It is conceivable that major breakthroughs can be made for diagnosing diseases that currently have no vaccine, e.g., dengue fever, chikungunya fever, etc. For example, the change in a blood cell’s mechanical property becomes a clue that leads to the diagnosis and ultimate treatment of the disease. The microgripper technology is an enabling technology to make these measurements, such as finding the stiffness of a red blood cell (4 microns) to diagnose precisely how malaria affects blood cells in the hope of developing a vaccine.
Assembly at the small scale is also possible for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) using IPMC microgrippers. It is sometimes impossible to create a monolithic semiconductor fabrication process that includes optical and electronic components on the same substrate. Assembly is be needed to create high performance MEMS. The IPMC microgripper represents a new way to address assembly at the small scale.
Last Modified: 08/16/2016
Modified by: Ron Lumia
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
