Developing intelligent micro-mechanisms

Abstract

Nowadays, MEMS and VLSI technologies produce sensors of increasing performance and functionality, microcontrollers generate an increasing amount of processing power in a small volume, and motors are getting as small as 1.9 mm in diameter. However, putting these elements together is still a challenge. For instance, one can buy or develop a very small video camera subset, but how to make it move using 2 motors of 5 mm in diameter, how to sense precisely the position and move as fast as the human eye, the constraints being a simple processor, a volume under 1 cubic inch, and a price compatible with mass distribution? Similar examples can be given for the medical and toy market. The 1 cm/sup 3/ robot contest is a good exercise for getting trained with miniature systems, and increase their intelligence. New approaches have to be taken in order to find efficient ideas for 3-D design, to solve the difficulty of machining and assembling miniature mechanical parts, to convert high speed motor rotation into the required movement, and to take care of the fragility of wires and the lack of really small connectors. Even software development and debugging need a new methodology. Fast prototyping is required in this field to test the new parts in real environments and to develop demonstrators that will convince about the feasibility of the product.