SUNFEST - Summer Undergraduate Research in Sensor Technologies

技术概述：该项目为10名本科生提供为期10周的研究机会，以提高他们的教育经验，并为他们提供推进传感器技术知识前沿的机会。这些学生将与一名教员和一名研究生配对，后者将监督和指导本科生研究员。每个项目都与传感器技术相关，这是一个共同的智力焦点。主题包括传感器现象，材料，纳米和微技术和传感器，仿生传感，机器人传感器系统。因此，具有不同工程背景的学生可以选择项目，也有机会进行多学科团队合作。学生有机会选择以下前沿项目之一：(1)纳米水族箱，由夹在两个电子透明氮化硅膜之间的薄液体层组成；(2)比色光子晶体微球传感器，其目标是开发一种环境友好的比色传感器，可以检测重金属和病原体；(3)光学传感器响应材料的制备与表征；(4)分布式传感器储能装置；(5)医院ICU-in-a-Bag，其目标是开发一种低成本的便携式生理控制系统试验台；(6)无线传感器-脑机接口（SBCI），将允许监测和重建体感功能；(7)微型机器人的生物传感器，将涉及将合成生物系统与非生物组件连接起来的方法，从而创建微生物机器人传感器；(8)一种用于有腿机器人的非触觉身体接触传感器；(9)使用RGB-D传感器的机器人的实时规划，将涉及实时运动规划，使人形机器人能够在复杂环境中安全交互；（10） at-sensor处理的超低能量计算；（11）传感器网络中基于软件的冗余。非技术概述：该项目将邀请一组10名本科生，他们很少或没有机会进行STEM导向的研究，在传感器技术领域进行有意义的研究项目。在一位教师的悉心指导下，学生将为学术发现做出贡献，这些发现可能会为医疗、机器人、通信、环境、能源和监控应用带来更好的传感器和系统。这种经历将成为一个强大的动力，让那些传统上不去读研究生的学生考虑在科学和工程领域毕业。这将大大增加对国家具有战略重要性领域的高学历劳动力。该项目还将成为其他学生参与的智力中心，例如来自城际高中的高中生。SUNFEST项目将作为催化剂，为代表性不足的学生提供更广泛的参与和支持环境。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The project offers research opportunities for a 10 week period to ten undergraduate students in order enhance their educational experiences and to provide them with the opportunity to advance frontiers of knowledge in sensor technologies. The students are paired with a faculty member and graduate student who will supervise and mentor the undergraduate researcher. Each project is related to sensor technologies, which acts as a common intellectual focus. The topics include sensor phenomena, materials, nano- and micro-technology and sensors, bio-inspired sensing, sensor systems for robotics. Students with various engineering backgrounds therefore have a choice of projects and also opportunities for multidisciplinary teamwork, as applicable. Students have the opportunity to select one of the following cutting-edge projects: (1)The Nanoaquarium that consists of a thin liquid layer sandwiched between two electron transparent silicon nitride membranes; (2) Colorimetric Photonic Crystal Microsphere Sensors whose goals is the development of an environmentally benign colorimetric sensor that can detect heavy metals and pathogens; (3) Fabrication and characterization of responsive materials for optical sensors; (4) Energy storage devices for distributed sensors; (5) Hospital ICU-in-a-Bag whose aim is to develop a low-cost portable test-bed for physiological control systems; (6) Wireless Sensor-Brain-Computer-Interface (SBCI) that will allow monitoring and reconstruct somatosensory functions; (7) Bio-sensors for mirco robots that will involve methods for interfacing synthetic biological systems with non-living components, thereby creating microbiorobotic sensors; (8) A non-tactile body contact sensor for legged robots; (9) Real-time planning for robots using RGB-D sensors what will involve real-time motion planning to allow humanoid robots to interact safely in complex environments; (10) Ultralow energy computations for at-sensor processing; (11) Software-based redundancy in sensor networks.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The project will engage a group of ten undergraduate students, who have little or no opportunities for STEM oriented research, with a meaningful research project in the area of sensor technologies. Under the careful mentorship of a faculty member, students will contribute to academically based discovery that may lead to better sensors and systems for medical, robotics, communications, environmental, energy and surveillance applications. This experience will serve as a strong motivator for the students, who do not traditionally do not go to graduate school, to consider going a graduate career in science and engineering. This will significantly increase the pool of a highly educated workforce in areas of strategic importance to the country. The program will also form an intellectual hub for other student involvement such as high school students from intercity high schools. The SUNFEST program will act as a catalyst for a broader involvement and supportive environment for underrepresented students.