Ruggedised MicroSystem Technology for marine measurement

海洋对人类文明的繁荣和未来发挥着至关重要的作用；作为自然资源的来源，作为工业（如运输和近海能源）和控制气候（全球变暖）的宿主。海洋环境科学已经达到了一个瓶颈，只有开发出能够在海洋中大规模部署的新一代综合多参数传感器，才能进一步提高对海洋的认识和了解。这项跨研究委员会拨款申请（NERC/EPSRC）旨在解决这一技术差距。测量海洋生物和化学（不要与物理参数、温度等混淆）的传感器极为有限。这些测量支撑着许多科学领域，尤其是海洋在气候变化中作用的精确建模。此外，这些传感器也需要由许多工业部门的日常高分辨率，环境参数的实时监测。目前的测量方法是基于传统的采样和实验室分析，尽管一些宏观传感器和设备正在开发。显然，这种方法永远无法在空间和时间上以足够的分辨率测量海洋。需要新的创新传感器技术——这是该项目的主题。建议开发一种新的加固微系统技术（RMST），以制造能够在恶劣环境中运行的新一代集成微设备，而无需笨重，昂贵和耗电的支持系统。该项目将重点关注两类传感系统：芯片实验室化学分析仪，用于检测海洋中超低浓度的营养物质和污染物；以及微型细胞仪来取样和识别海洋中的单个浮游植物。该系统将以传统的实验室分析方法为基准，并在海洋和苏格兰海湖上进行现场测试，测试地点包括潜水滑翔机、自主潜艇和剖面浮标。

The oceans play a crucial role in the prosperity and future of our civilisation; as a source of natural resources, as host to industry (e.g. transport and offshore energy) and in controlling climate (global warming). Marine environmental science has reached a bottleneck where further advances in knowledge and understanding of the oceans can only be obtained if a new generation of integrated multi-parametric sensors is developed, capable of mass-deployment in the oceans. This cross research council grant application (NERC/EPSRC) is aimed at solving this technology gap. Sensors that measure ocean life and chemistry (not to be confused with physical parameters; temperature etc) are extremely limited. Such measurements underpin many scientific fields, not least the accurate modelling of the oceans' role in climate change. In addition, these sensors are also required by many industrial sectors for routine high resolution, temporal monitoring of environment parameters.Current measurement methods are based on traditional sampling and laboratory analysis, although some macro sensors and devices are being developed. Clearly this approach which will never be able to measure the oceans with sufficient resolution in space and time. New innovative sensor technologies are required - this is the theme of this project. It is proposed to develop a new ruggedised Micro System Technology (RMST) to fabricate a new generation of integrated micro-devices capable of operating in harsh environments, without bulky, expensive and power hungry support systems. The project will focus on two classes of sensing systems: Lab-on-a-chip chemical analysers to detect nutrients and pollutants at the ultra low concentrations found in the oceans; and miniature cytometers to sample and identify individual phytoplankton in the oceans. The systems will be benchmarked against traditional lab-based analytical methods and field tested in the oceans and in Scottish sea lochs aboard submersible gliders, autonomous submarines and profiling floats.