MRI: Acquisition of a Photonic Nanofabrication System

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖支持获得光子纳米制造系统，该系统能够以超高打印分辨率三维制造纳米尺度到中尺度结构。该仪器将催化安柏瑞德航空大学在软机器人、传感器/致动器、细胞和晶格结构等领域的潜在变革性基础研究，推动从精密手术、生物医学设备到制造和仓储配送等领域的社会进步。该仪器将成为纳米制造研究和培训的主要区域资源，并将加强安柏瑞德与其他大学、研究中心和行业的合作。该奖项还将支持面向K-12、本科生和研究生以及公众的教育活动，对所有年龄和背景的不同人群产生重大影响。增材制造的最新进展为设计和制造具有非常规几何形状和材料的复杂微结构提供了机会，可用于广泛的工程应用。这台仪器将能够制造仿生和仿生支架以及微机械和微流体装置，用于研究生化过程和癌症研究。重点项目将促进对关键领域的基本理解，包括软机器人驱动的微介电弹性体和柔性电极之间的机电关系，以及肌肉静压驱动如何工作的知识。- 3d打印微晶格细胞结构中优化的微观结构几何形状和机械性能与细胞数量之间的关系。- 3D几何形状，提供更好的导波损耗或改善天线辐射，并通过3D聚合物结构实现最佳的介电互连。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a photonic nanofabrication system that enables three-dimensional fabrication of nanoscale to mesoscale structures with ultrahigh print resolution. This instrument will catalyze, potentially transformative fundamental research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in areas ranging from soft robotics and sensors/actuators to cellular and lattice structures--enabling societal advances in areas from precision surgery and biomedical devices to manufacturing and warehouse distribution. This instrument will be a major regional resource for nanofabrication research and training and it will enhance Embry-Riddle’s collaborations with other universities, research centers, and industries. The award will also support educational activities for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and the public-- significantly impacting diverse populations of all ages and backgrounds.Recent advances in additive manufacturing provide an opportunity to design and fabricate complex microstructures with unconventional geometries and materials for a wide range of engineering applications. This instrument will enable fabrication of biofidelic and biomimetic scaffolds and micromechanical and microfluidic devices to study biochemical processes and cancer research. Key projects will advance fundamental understanding in key areas including- electromechanical relationships between micro dielectric elastomer and compliant electrodes of soft robotic actuation and knowledge of how muscular hydrostatic actuation works.- relationships between the optimized microstructure geometries and mechanical properties and number of cells in 3D-printed micro lattice cellular structures.- 3D geometries that offer better loss for guided waves or improved antenna radiation and optimal dielectric interconnections that are enabled by a 3D polymer structure.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.