MRI: Acquisition of a Photonic Nanofabrication System

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)奖支持收购一种光子纳米制造系统，该系统能够以超高打印分辨率三维制造纳米级到中级级结构。该仪器将促进恩布里-里德尔航空大学在从软机器人和传感器/致动器到细胞和晶格结构等领域的潜在变革性基础研究，使从精密手术和生物医学设备到制造和仓库配送等领域的社会进步成为可能。该仪器将成为纳米制造研究和培训的主要地区性资源，它将加强安布里-里德尔与其他大学、研究中心和行业的合作。该奖项还将支持K-12、本科生和研究生以及公众的教育活动，这些活动将显著影响所有年龄和背景的不同人群。添加剂制造的最新进展为设计和制造具有非传统几何形状和材料的复杂微结构提供了机会，适用于广泛的工程应用。该仪器将能够制造生物逼真和仿生支架，以及用于研究生化过程和癌症研究的微机械和微流体设备。关键项目将促进对关键领域的基本理解，包括-微介电弹性体和柔性机器人致动的顺应性电极之间的机电关系以及肌肉静液致动如何工作的知识。-优化的微结构几何与3D打印微晶格细胞结构中的机械性能和细胞数量之间的关系。-3D几何提供更好的导波损失或改善的天线辐射和由3D聚合物结构实现的最佳介质互连。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.