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research news archive
Research Newsletter - Fall 2005
Electrical Engineering
Feature Stories
Silicon Chip Technology for Hybrid Bio-Molecular Devices
Researchers in the Electrical Engineering Department are key contributors to a two-year, $11.7 million, multi-collaborative Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA) research project developing novel hybrid bio-molecular nanodevices and systems for potential application as biosensors in areas such disease detection, pharmaceutical drug-testing, drug-delivery systems, and the health monitoring arena.
Hybrid bio-molecular devices involve interfacing biological matter with electronic circuitry to create a silicon chip that can interpret and convert molecular changes into real-time digital information.
Dr. Stephen Goodnick, a professor of electrical engineering and Dr. Trevor Thornton , also a professor of electrical engineering and Director of the Center for Solid State Electronics at ASU, head the ASU effort.
'Cognitive Radios' - Researchers Study the Wave of the Future
Today, our radio frequency (RF) resource is successfully exploited by commercial broadcasters, public service officials in police, fire and government agencies, cellular phone users, wireless networks, hobbyists, etc .
An automatically tuning antenna demonstration setup.
Although the federal government regulates the radio spectrum through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), numerous decisions over a long period of time made by commercial radio vendors, service providers, consumers, and local and state governments have created a situation where the radio spectrum is utilized in a less than efficient manner.
Power Systems Researchers Study 'Distributed Generation'
A microturbine intended for use in distributed generation
Traditionally, electric power generation takes place in large centralized power plants that use coal, natural gas or nuclear power as sources of energy. These generating stations originated and were constructed over the years based on the 'economy of scale,' where electric energy is produced with an eye to efficiency, mass generation, and low-cost installation of equipment.
The central station concept for electricity generation, however, may not always be the best choice for some of today's changing energy needs and rapidly evolving technologies, suggests Dr. Gerald Heydt, ASU Regents' Professor and power systems researcher.
Multi-Disciplinary Grant Advances Sensing Technology
Sensors are ubiquitous in today's technology products and systems. From power plants to medical devices, automobile engines to environmental monitoring systems, navigation to safety, sensors are increasingly important in many aspects of our daily lives.
Spurred by advancing electronic and optical technologies, highly advanced, agile sensors are emerging as a next-generation technology for defense applications, such as surveillance and target tracking.
Over the past five years, ASU professors Antonia Papandreou-Suppappola and Darryl Morrell from the Department of Electrical Engineering have been working to integrate the mathematical foundations of sensing and processing with special emphasis on developing new algorithms to exploit the agility of emerging sensor systems.