More than 100 people got a sense of the future in the Zone at the FedEx Institute of Technology Wednesday. A panel discussion presented by four different research teams explored multiple applications and current research in the field of sensing technologies.
Michael Hawley, director of special projects at FIT, moderated the panel and introduced the first speakers, Eugene Pinkhassik, Sanjay Mishra and Erno Linder, who discussed the development and future uses of nanosensors.
Nanosensors are tiny devices that can be placed inside cells.Pinkhassik said nanosensor applications include implantable blood glucose meters, use for early detection of diseases and environmental monitoring.
"Nanosensors will enable non-invasive diagnostic methods that will make taking blood from veins obsolete," Pinkhassik said. "After completing a prototype, we will look for partners in biomedical technology and industrial applications."
Colleague Sanjay Mishra continued with a discussion and presentation on other uses for nanosensors, including the use of smart magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging.
Erno Linder said the group is already working with Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare to monitor blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.
Researchers Steve Griffin and Carl Halford continued the panel with a presentation on projects with visual sensors.
"We're looking to improve the performance of current sensing technology and lower some of the costs," said Steve Griffin. "We're studying what kind of imaging we can do at certain frequencies."
Specifically, Griffin spoke on tera hertz sensors that have the potential to see through clothing and other obstacles. Images on the screen showed targets used by U of M researchers in conjunction with the Army's Night Vision Laboratory. Griffin said applications for such technology were widespread in urban military operations and the global war against terrorism.
"Clothing on this mannequin is nearly transparent," he said. "At these frequencies, we can also see through cardboard boxes."
Some problems and obstacles like lens size and atmospheric turbulence still challenge researchers in the field.
Brian Janz and Medhi Amini presented on the impact that radio frequency identification (RFID) will have on businesses.
"RFID has the potential to do for supply chains (and the products in them) what the World Wide Web did for the Internet (and the information in it)," Janz said. "We're testing the use of RFID tags to help manage the life and death supply chain of trauma patients at the Med."
Janz also addressed concerns that the technology still has some flaws.
"We tell people and potential clients that it's not perfect today, but you can't afford to sit on the sidelines and wait for it to be perfect," he said.
One U of M student leaving the program to go to class was very impressed with the research discussed Wednesday.
"Being an engineering student, I thought it was great to see all of the future possibilities," said Yasir Jamal, a U of M senior. "I see how I can relate a lot of that technology to my classes."
It was a great presentation and I hope to come over here more often for programs like this, he said.
