Micromachined Acoustic Particle Acceleration Sensors

我们正在提议与我们的工业合作伙伴超电子海事系统公司(UEMS)和国防部(DND)开展一个合作研究项目。UEMS是拖曳阵列声纳系统的领先开发商，用于探测和定位水下目标。拖曳阵列由数百个传感器节点组成，通常有几百米长。每个传感器节点由四个声压传感器组成，拖曳阵列的直径约为10厘米。通过这个项目，我们将利用微制造技术来设计和制造具有与当前传感器相同水平的灵敏度和动态范围的粒子加速度传感器，同时将阵列的直径缩小到约2厘米。这显著降低了阵列的重量和体积，并最终降低了整体系统成本。UEMS在财务和技术上都能够利用这项研究的结果来显著增强他们目前的产品线，并深化他们在市场上的利基市场。这项工作的初步可行性研究是通过NSERC Engage项目进行的。通过这个项目，我们将开发基于超灵敏微机械加速度计的声粒子加速度传感器，具有宽频带和高动态范围。在该项目过程中，将设计、制造、测试三个原型并交付给UEMS。 西蒙·弗雷泽大学非常适合进行这项研究，因为它拥有团队专业知识和两个全面运作的洁净室。所有设计的设计、原型和基于它们的未来产品将完全在加拿大制造和组装。虽然这对UEMS在后勤上很重要，但它进一步在加拿大提供了就业机会和财富。14名不同级别的高素质人员将接受这项技术不同方面的培训。通过这项提议创造的培训环境将对该设备未来的商业化至关重要。 该项目属于DND/NSERC研究补助金的海底系统优先研究领域。

We are proposing a collaborative research project with our industrial partner, Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems Inc. (UEMS) and the Department of National Defence (DND). UEMS is a leading developer of Towed Array sonar systems to detect and localize underwater targets. A Towed Array is made of hundreds of sensor nodes and typically is several hundred meters long. Each sensor node is made of four acoustic pressure sensors, setting the diameter of the Towed Array to about 10cm. Through this project, we will employ microfabrication techniques to design and fabricate particle acceleration sensors with the same level of sensitivity and dynamic range as the current sensors while reducing the diameter of the array to about 2cm. This results in significant reductions in the weight and volume of the array, and eventually, the overall system cost. UEMS is in a position financially and technically to capitalize on the results of this research to significantly enhance their current product line and deepen their niche in the market. The initial feasibility research on this work was conducted through an NSERC Engage project. Through this project, we will develop acoustic particle acceleration sensors based on ultrasensitive micromachined accelerometers with a wide bandwidth and high dynamic range. Three prototypes will be designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered to UEMS over the course of this project. Simon Fraser University is ideally suited to conduct this research due to existence of team expertise and two fully operational cleanrooms. All of the devised designs, prototypes, and future products based on them will be entirely fabricated and assembled in Canada. While this is logistically important to UEMS, it further provides job opportunities and wealth in Canada. Fourteen highly qualified personnel at various levels will be trained on different aspects of this technology. The training environment created through this proposal will be crucial for the future commercialization of the devices. This project falls under the priority research area of Undersea Systems for DND/NSERC Research Grants.