The hottest sensors and other devices will become

Sensors and other devices will become Matchbox portable electronic packages editor's note: according to DARPA's plan, all components of the new generation of portable devices and robots will be condensed into a chip, so that navigation systems, radar sensors, low-temperature cooling systems and micro power devices can be implanted at any time. Sensors, mass spectrometers and other laboratory equipment will also be transformed into "matchbox size" portable electronics, which also prepares the conditions for the development of the field of flexible packaging

the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the Pentagon has successfully developed a variety of micro devices, such as micro cooler, nano mass spectrometer and chip atomic clock. They will not only become secret weapons on the battlefield in the future, but also bring great changes to human life. Their significance may be no less than that of inte's revolutionary invention

the Guardian reported that according to DARPA's plan, all components of the new generation of portable devices and robots will be condensed into one chip, so that navigation systems, radar sensors, low-temperature cooling systems and micro power devices can be implanted at any time. Sensors, mass spectrometers and other laboratory equipment will also be transformed into "matchbox size" portable electronic packages

40 years ago, Gordon Moore, one of the founders of Intel, predicted that the cost of processors would be halved every two years. Accordingly, the volume of computer devices would continue to shrink and the functions would become more and more powerful. Today, Moore's law also applies to other fields. The development of MEMS has paved the way for the rise of "lab-on-a-chip". As early as the 1990s, "micro laboratory" was strongly supported by DARPA. Now its experimental records are constantly being refreshed, and various nano versions of new equipment have also been introduced. For example, electronic products such as superconducting circuits and infrared sensors need a huge cooling system to maintain a low temperature environment, and the micro cooler not only greatly reduces energy consumption, but also can accurately cool the equipment. The key lies in the so-called "microcomputer thermal insulation structure" - a deep freezer made of metal bismuth, which can trigger the thermoelectric effect for cooling only by energizing. It can rapidly reduce the space temperature of about 4 cubic centimeters to minus 200 degrees Celsius, and the power consumption is only 0.1 watt

other nano instruments have special uses. For example, water pumps are usually used in laboratories to transport gases or liquids, but they often cannot meet the vacuum conditions required by large detectors and radiant heat meters. To this end, the laboratory has developed a chip level micro vacuum pump, which can produce a low pressure of one millionth. In addition, researchers have also developed a chip level infrared camera weighing only 10 grams using micro imaging sensors, which is mainly suitable for unmanned aircraft and night vision goggles

however, the application of most inventions is not only the increasing demand for rubber every year, but also limited to the military field, and its commercial prospects are also promising. Such as chip level atomic clock, radar, gas analyzer, photon instrument and other sensors. Among them, the micro atomic sensor is no less than the chip size, but its resolution is no less than that of standard products, and it is extremely widely used. In view of its strong compatibility, people can plug it into various devices to measure temperature, air pressure, magnetic field and other environmental factors in real time

in recent years, biologically damaged components will change color, blister or appear burnt spots; Burned out devices will produce some special smell; Short circuit chips will burn; With the naked eye, we can also detect the false soldering or desoldering place. The threat of terrorism makes DARPA begin to turn its attention to the research and development of chip analysis tools. According to Jon Cooper, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Glasgow, researchers have made breakthroughs in DNA analysis technology - rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technology can be used not only to detect biological weapons and maintain national security, but also to diagnose infectious diseases

not only that, DARPA also plans to develop thermal engines with micro power generation devices and equipment that can collect energy from the surrounding environment. For example, micro atomic battery "isotope power source" intelligent electronic tensile testing machine is applicable to plastic film, composite film, soft packaging materials, adhesives, adhesive tapes, self-adhesive, rubber, paper, aluminum-plastic plate and other products for tensile test, elongation at break, peel strength, right angle tear, heat sealing strength, adhesive strength, puncture resistance test, low-speed unwinding force, stripping force and other performance tests, with an area of less than 1 cubic centimeter, Power up to 35 MW. When charging, just plug the chip into the socket on the wall. For soldiers, this kind of instrument can replace them to enter the dangerous field that nobody touches

however, Cooper also pointed out that the "micro laboratory" is essentially an analysis system that benefits from nanotechnology. In many cases, it cannot work independently, but needs to be implanted into the host system. Matt mowlem of the Southampton Oceanography Center in the United States agreed that there are still many problems to be solved in the construction of independent nanosystems, such as the engineering problems of integrated systems, the interconnection between chips and off chip systems, packaging systems, support systems, etc

nevertheless, achieving the self-control of chip instruments is still one of the important goals of DARPA. In the plan, it proposed to develop "matchbox size, highly integrated instruments and micro system architecture", especially "low-power, small, light-weight micro sensors, micro robots and micro communication systems". In other words, they are committed to integrating "electronic, mechanical, fluid, photonic and radio/microwave technologies" into a small chip