M. F. Chowdhury

Design and Implementation of a Modular Biomimetic Infochemical Communication System

We describe here the design and implementation of a novel biomimetic infochemical communication system that employs airborne molecules alone to communicate over space and time. The system involves the design and fabrication of a microsystem capable of producing and releasing a precise mix of biosynthetic compounds and a sensor system capable of detecting and decoding the ratiometrically encoded chemical information. The research inspired by biology has been based upon the biosynthetic pathways of infochemical production and information processing within the insect world. In this novel approach, the functional equivalents of the nanoscale biological machinery are implemented by combining the latest advances and convergence of expertise in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, micro- and nanofabrication, materials science, and smart sensor and microcircuit design. The biomimetic system comprises a micromachined bio-reactor mimicking the sex gland of the female insect that releases a blend of pheromones in precisely controlled ratios, together with a cell-based biosensor system, mimicking the antennae of the male insect. The signals from the biosensors are classified and ratios decoded using a field-programmable gate array implementation of a neuromorphic model of the antenna lobe of the insect. We believe that this novel, smart infochemical communication system, inspired by the insects behavior, could eventually be implemented in VLSI technology at low cost and low power with possible application in the fields of automatic identification and data capturing, product labeling, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and pest control

SOI sensing technologies for harsh environment

This paper reviews and addresses certain aspects of Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technologies for a harsh environment. The paper first describes the need for specialized sensors in applications such as (i) domestic and other small-scale boilers, (ii) CO2 Capture and Sequestration, (iii) oil & gas storage and transportation, and (iv) automotive. We describe in brief the advantages and special features of SOI technology for sensing applications requiring temperatures in excess of the typical bulk silicon junction temperatures of 150oC. Finally we present the concepts, structures and prototypes of simple and smart micro-hotplate and Infra Red (IR) based emitters for NDIR (Non Dispersive IR) gas sensors in harsh environments.

Design and implementation of a modular biomimetic infochemical communication system

We describe here the design and implementation of a novel biomimetic infochemical communication system that employs airborne molecules alone to communicate over space and time. The system involves the design and fabrication of a microsystem capable of producing and releasing a precise mix of biosynthetic compounds and a sensor system capable of detecting and decoding the ratiometrically encoded chemical information. The research inspired by biology has been based upon the biosynthetic pathways of infochemical production and information processing within the insect world. In this novel approach, the functional equivalents of the nanoscale biological machinery are implemented by combining the latest advances and convergence of expertise in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, micro- and nanofabrication, materials science, and smart sensor and microcircuit design. The biomimetic system comprises a micromachined bio-reactor mimicking the sex gland of the female insect that releases a blend of pheromones in precisely controlled ratios, together with a cell-based biosensor system, mimicking the antennae of the male insect. The signals from the biosensors are classified and ratios decoded using a field-programmable gate array implementation of a neuromorphic model of the antenna lobe of the insect. We believe that this novel, smart infochemical communication system, inspired by the insects behavior, could eventually be implemented in VLSI technology at low cost and low power with possible application in the fields of automatic identification and data capturing, product labeling, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and pest control

ASIC for hybrid biosynthetic infochemical chemoreceiver

In this paper we report upon the design of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that forms part of a single-board implementation of a smart chemoreceiver within an infochemical communication system. The ASIC, comprising four differential surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR) circuits, enables the sensing of odour blend ratios of either fruit volatiles or sex pheromones for insects. The ASIC chip has a digital interface to an FPGA containing a neuromorphic blend model developed in order to classify specific ratios of chemical compounds in the odour blends and used to control a mobile robot. The ASIC measures small changes in the resonant frequency of functionalized piezoelectric sensors with a resolution of 20 Hz and where the base SAW frequency is selected in the range of 60 to 969 MHz. The BiCMOS ASIC chip has dimensions 3 mm × 3 mm and was fabricated at AustiaMicroSystems (AMS). The smart chemoreceiver can be integrated with a chemoemitter to create a novel insect based infochemical communication system.

Development of plasmonic MEMS CMOS infrared sensors for occupancy detection

In this paper, we describe the application of novel MEMS CMOS infrared (IR) sensors for developing compact filter-less occupancy detections. Using such sensors we will report the feasibility of this application in terms of the: sensitivity; response time and selectivity with and without the plasmonic structure. Furthermore, we will compare the detection range, field of view and the size of object of these sensors can detect with and without optical lens.