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Nano/Micro Technology

     In recent years, due to the fast growth of the nanotechnology, more attention has been paid to the micro world. The researches in our laboratory have been translated to the field of the dynamics in the micro world. Main research subjects can divide into two parts:

1. Micro/nano manipulation and manufacture technology
2. Development and design of SOC (System-on-chip) technology

     In the aspect of the micro/nano manipulation, automated precise assembly system will be developed. The depth information will be calculated by the binocular stereo. Then, the obstacle avoidance path and optimal path will be calculated by the central computer. In the end, the central computer will send the control signals to the piezo-driven precise stage for manipulating micro particles. Further, we will put emphasis on developing micro-injector and micro-tweezers to do advanced manipulation on cells.

      In the aspect of the nano-manufacture, the SPM (scanning probe microscopy) will be used to implement the nanolithography, manipulate particles to arrange them to form special signs, or etch the surface of silicon substrates to form micro electric devices. All the above-mentioned are applications in the future.

Semiconductor technology is still based upon an underlying assumption that Moor's Law will continue unabated for another decade and it defines the inventions required to enable this to happen. Implied by this assumption is that density and local clock rates will double every two years. Therefore, the concept of SoC (System-on-a-Chip) design is introduced to develop a tiny, light, low power consumption, and fast system chip with several subsystems cooperated. Since the SoC design is so complexity and difficult to verification.

      In our laboratory, we establish a fully SoC development environment, including system level design and simulation, hardware/software co-simulation, and mixed-signal circuit analysis, design, simulation, and layout, etc. we will put emphasis on developing and integrating silicon intellectual properties (SIP), SoC, and MEMS fields. For example, we are trying to use the concept of SoC design to integrate the tactile sensors, EMG discriminative module, and control module into a micro-control system in the integrated intelligent Prosthetic System project. Such micro-control system is implemented by SoC chip to achieve tiny, light, low power consumption, and convenient to carry purpose.

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Development of an Automated Precise Assembly System

      In recent years, due to the growth of micro-mechatronics technology, more emphasis has been placed on the micro world instead of macro world. The dynamic analysis of micro world is no longer governed by conventional dynamics. Forces, such as surface tension, electrostatic force, and viscosity, become dominant over inertia forces. Not only the force between particles is complicated, but also the interaction of particles involves quantum mechanics. These lead to the difficulty to analyze the micro world. During particle manipulation, what kind of forces we should apply to the particle or how to estimate the interaction between particles when we move particles are some possible issues we may experience. There are more complex issues in particle manipulation.

      In order to understand micro world further, an"Automated Precise Assembly System" is proposed in this project. The goal is to manipulate small particles (£g¢õ), including stereo display, micro path planning, and micro manipulation. The proposed "Automated Precise Assembly System" can be applied to biology, bio-engineering, medicine, material engineering field, etc.

      The automated precise assembly system is mainly composed of three parts:

(1) Visual sensing and stereo image reconstruction
      The dynamics of small particles can be real-time observed in local computer by using "Stereo Image System", and then the user can handle the joystick to control the robot arm to move the small particles. Because the joystick amplifies micromanipulation, the high precision can be maintained.

(2) Path planning
      In the process of transporting a particle, the tip of the robot arm may be obstructed by other particles or some obstacles. How to keep away from the obstacles is an important issue when moving the robot arm. This problem has something to do with path planning. Regarding path planning, one is to plan a shortest path for the robot arm to reach the desired position, the other is to avoid the obstacles real time and dexterously. These are key issues while doing path planning. The proposed "Automation Precise Assembly System" will cover the path planning techniques.

(3) Precision positioning
      To achieve the precise motion control, a master-slave architecture is employed for the proposed system. The master consists of a robot arm and uses stepping motor to do the coarse positioning first. The slave is a micropositioner and uses piezoelectric actuator to do the fine positioning of the stage. The master-slave stage can move the particle to the desired position precisely.

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Development of an Integrated Multi-Functional and Intelligent Dexterous Prosthetic Hand

      A dexterous prosthetic hand possesses the following functions:

(1) It can measure the electromyography (EMG) signals from amputee's muscle via surface electrodes and can recognize the EMG signals to output the correct prehensile postures.
(2) The acquired EMG signals should be meaningful.
(3) It can manipulate dexterously.
(4) A training environment is provided.
(5) It can sense forces precisely, and tactile sensors are built in the prosthetic hand.
(6) A compact control module and an EMG recognition module are preferred. We aim to develop an intelligent, portable, humanoid prosthetic hand such that an amputee can use it practically.

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Robotics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
National Taiwan University Taipei 10660, Taiwan

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