Author: Amanda Stoll DiCristofaro | MIT.nano<\/p>\n
\u201cSensing is all around you,\u201d said MIT.nano Associate Director Brian W. Anthony at Ambient Sensing, a half-day symposium presented in May by the MIT.nano Immersion Lab. Featuring MIT faculty and researchers from multiple disciplines, the event highlighted sensing technologies deployed everywhere from beneath the Earth\u2019s surface to high into the exosphere.<\/p>\n
Brent Minchew, assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), kicked off the symposium with a presentation on using remote sensing to understand the flow, deformation, and fracture of glacier ice, and how that is contributing to sea level rise. \u201cThere\u2019s this fantastic separation of scales,\u201d said Minchew. \u201cWe\u2019re taking observations collected from satellites that are flying 700 kilometers above the surface, and we\u2019re using the data that\u2019s collected there to infer what\u2019s happening at the atomic scale within the ice, which is magnificent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minchew\u2019s group is working with other researchers at MIT to build a drone capable of flying for three to four months over the polar regions, filling critical gaps in earth observations. \u201cIt\u2019s going to give us this radical improvement over current technology and our observational capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also using satellites, EAPS postdoc Qindan Zhu combines machine learning with observational inputs from remote sensing to study ozone pollution over North American cities. Zhu explained that, based on a decade worth of data, controlling nitrogen oxides emissions will be the most effective way to regulate ozone pollution in these urban areas. Both Zhu\u2019s and Minchew\u2019s presentations highlighted the important role ambient sensors play in learning more about Earth\u2019s changing climate.<\/p>\n
Transitioning from air to sea, Michael Benjamin, principal research scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, spoke about his work on robotic marine vehicles to explore and monitor the ocean and coastal marine environments. \u201cRobotic platforms as remote sensors have the ability to sense in places that are too dangerous, boring, or costly for crewed vessels,\u201d explained Benjamin. At the MIT Marine Autonomy Lab, researchers are designing underwater surface robots, autonomous sailing vessels, and an amphibious surf zone robot.<\/p>\n
Sensing is a huge part of marine robotics, said Benjamin. \u201cWithout sensors, robots wouldn\u2019t be able to know where they are, they couldn\u2019t avoid hidden things, they couldn\u2019t collect information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fadel Adib, associate professor\u200b in the Program in Media Arts & Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS), is also working on sensing underwater. \u201cBattery life of underwater sensors is extremely limited,\u201d explained Adib. \u201cIt is very difficult to recharge the battery of an ocean sensor once it\u2019s been deployed.\u201d<\/p>\n
His research group built an underwater sensor that reflects acoustic signals rather than needing to generate its own, requiring much less power. They also developed a battery-free, wireless underwater camera<\/a> that can capture images continuously and over a long period of time. Adib spoke about potential applications for underwater ambient sensing \u2014 climate studies, discovery of new ocean species, monitoring aquaculture farms to support food security, and even beyond the ocean, in outer space. \u201cAs you can imagine, it\u2019s even more difficult to replace a sensor\u2019s battery once you\u2019ve shipped it on a space mission,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Originally working in the underwater sensing world, James Kinsey, CEO of Humatics, is applying his knowledge of ocean sensors to two different markets: public transit and automotive manufacturing. \u201cAll of that sensor data in the ocean \u2014 the value is when you can geolocate it,\u201d explained Kinsey. \u201cThe more precisely and accurately you know that, you can begin to paint that 3D space.\u201d Kinsey spoke about automating vehicle assembly lines with millimeter precision, allowing for the use of robotic arms. For subway trains, he highlighted the benefits of sensing systems to better know a train\u2019s position, as well as to improve rider and worker safety by increasing situational awareness. \u201cPrecise positioning transforms the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n At the intersection of electrical engineering, communications, and imaging, EECS Associate Professor Ruonan Han introduced his research on sensing through semiconductor chips that operate at terahertz frequencies. Using these terahertz chips, Han\u2019s research group has demonstrated high-angular-resolution 3D imaging without mechanical scanning. They\u2019re working on electronic nodes for gas sensing, precision timing, and miniaturizing tags and sensors.<\/p>\n In two Q&A panels led by Anthony, the presenters discussed how sensing technologies interface with the world, highlighting challenges in hardware design, manufacturing, packaging, reducing cost, and producing at scale. On the topic of data visualization, they agreed on a need for hardware and software technologies to interact with and assimilate data in faster, more immersive ways.<\/p>\n Ambient Sensing was broadcast live from the MIT.nano Immersion Lab<\/a>. This unique research space, located on the third floor of MIT.nano, provides an environment to connect the physical to the digital \u2014 visualizing data, prototyping advanced tools for augmented and virtual reality (AR\/VR), and developing new software and hardware concepts for immersive experiences.<\/p>\n To showcase current work being done in the Immersion Lab, retired MIT fencing coach Robert Hupp joined Anthony and research scientist Praneeth Namburi for a live demonstration of immersive athlete-training technology. Using wireless sensors on the fencing \u00e9p\u00e9e paired with OptiTrack motion-capture sensors along the room\u2019s perimeter, a novice fencer wearing a motion-capture suit and an AR headset faced a virtual opponent while Namburi tracked the fencer\u2019s stance on a computer. Hupp was able to show the fencer how to improve his movements with this real-time data.<\/p>\n \u201cThis event showcased the capabilities of the Immersion Lab, and the work being done on sensing \u2014 including sensors, data analytics, and data visualization \u2014 across MIT,\u201d says Anthony. \u201cMany of our speakers talked about collaboration and the importance of bringing multiple fields together to advance ambient sensing and data collection to solve societal challenges. I look forward to welcome more academic and industry researchers into the Immersion Lab to support their work with our advanced hardware and software technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Go to Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Author: Amanda Stoll DiCristofaro | MIT.nano \u201cSensing is all around you,\u201d said MIT.nano Associate Director Brian W. 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