Volume 8, Number 4     July/August 2000

Glenn Hosts Microsystems Forum

Industry representatives, business leaders and researchers interested in exploring partnering opportunities in the rapidly evolving area of microsystems had a chance to discuss the exciting possibilities at the IDEAS Forum hosted by NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, in November 1999.

The forum was called IDEAS, highlighting innovations, demonstrations, exhibits, applications and spinoffs in microelectro-mechanical systems, or MEMS. Technologies showcased focused on health monitoring in harsh environments including sensors, actuators, microelectronics, packaging, micromachining and other supporting topical areas.

Sponsored by Glenn’s Commercial Technology Office, the forum in-cluded poster displays of microsystem technologies, technology presentations, industry-focused sessions and a tour of Glenn sites, including microsystems laboratories and micromachining/packaging facilities.

In addition, keynote addresses were presented by Dr. Al Pisano and Dr. David E. Cole. Pisano is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley and is affiliated with the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center. Cole, who is the director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, works extensively on internal combustion engines, vehicle design and overall automotive industry trends.

		Glenn Research Center hosted the IDEAS Forum in November 1999. The forum provided an opportunity for industry representatives, business leaders and researchers to discuss microsystems. The IDEAS forum included technology presentations, posters displays of microsystem technologies and industry-focused sessions. (Photos provided by Glenn Research Center.)

Approximately 160 people attended the forum. Attendees included representatives from Glenn, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland Clinic, DaimlerChrysler, Goodyear, Carnegie Mellon University, Picker International, Energizer/Eveready, Proctor & Gamble, the Ohio State University, Dow Chemical, Cleveland Tomorrow, Moog Inc., Accumed Systems Inc., Pratt & Whitney and others.

NASA Glenn is a partner in the Glennan Microsystems Initiative. The five-year program, which started in 1998, combines the expertise at Glenn and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, with industry to advance the application of MEMS. A goal of the initiative is to identify and manufacture several prototype devices that will operate in harsh industrial, aerospace and biomedical environments.

For more information, contact Laurel J. Stauber at Glenn Research Center
216/433-2820 laurel.j.stauber@grc.nasa.gov Please mention you read about it in Innovation.