IEN: What are the major concerns facing sensing, and how can they be addressed?
Ramaswami: Some of the major issues with sensing have got to do with the nature of evolving sensing technologies themselves. The emphasis is now on distributed sensing systems that monitor various aspects of a process in real time. It is also becoming increasingly wireless. The size of the sensors themselves is becoming smaller and with MEMS and nanotechnology on the ascent, the onus is on miniaturization. Combining distributed sensing with miniaturization is one of the leading challenges in the sensing industry.
The other issues have to do with development of reliable sensors for environmental monitoring and biohazard safety. Penetration into the medical markets has given rise to a demand for biocompatible sensors that work under extreme conditions with enhanced reliability.
Non-contact sensing is also catching up fast, with increasing need for non-intrusive medical and industrial diagnostic equipment. In all these cases repeatability of results, reliability, durability, and connectivity still remain the challenges for the future.
IEN: What issues confront machine vision? How can they be resolved?
Ramaswami: Machine vision was a technology that was expected to explode in the last decade. The take-off has been far subtler than expected. The major roadblocks were because of the inherent definition of an ideal machine vision system. People were trying to build systems that could emulate a human eye, but the stumbling block was that they could not provide a knowledge management system like the human brain to back it up. Without this backbone, the system is not very useful.
The recent developments in computer hardware, parallel processing, neural networks, fuzzy logic, data compression, and color vision, as well as the use of FireWire, Ethernet, and wireless communications, are enhancing the reliability and robustness of machine vision systems. Advent of MEMS and other microscale technologies has drastically reduced the size of machine vision components and ultra-small imaging systems are already in the pipeline. For machine vision to realize its fullest potential, simultaneous development in myriad technologies ranging from sensing to computer architecture and networking will have to materialize. The point to note here is that it is very much happening at this point in time.
IEN: What innovations are in store for users in the areas of: color, intelligent sensing, high-end edge detection, MEMS/sensing clusters, nanotechnology, data acquisition, software, and ruggedization?
Ramaswami: MEMS and nanotechnology without a doubt look set to revolutionize the way sensing technologies would evolve.
To put things in perspective, it would be noteworthy to point out that a new sensor developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. has successfully measured masses as low as 5.5 femtograms. This is a new sensitivity breakthrough, made possible by the use of MEMS. The mass is so low that it is almost in the range of measuring the mass of a single bacterial cell.
Numerous research projects underway around the world are throwing up an ever-increasing array of sensors based on nanotechnology and MEMS. Such sensors have the ability for inertial sensing (force, pressure, strain, displacement etc.), chemical sensing (volatile gases, smell, toxic gases, etc.), and biological sensing (bacteria, and other biowarfare agents). Work is also underway to impart self-sustaining and communication functionalities to such sensors.
Intelligent sensing systems, working in conjunction with machine vision, robotics, and artificial intelligence, have been demonstrated and have begun finding real-world applications.
IEN: What are the R & D hotspots (e.g. SDT, MTJ, nanotechnology, biosensors)? Which R & D areas are closest to commercialization?
Ramaswami: Nanotechnology continues to hog the limelight as the most funded R & D area the world over. MEMS is not far behind, as are other communications and software technologies.
SDT (spin-dependent tunneling), MTJ (magnetic tunneling junction), GMR (giant magnetoresistance), and TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance) -- to name a few -- are some of the evolving quantum tunneling technologies that are evolving into usable products. Some of the immediate applications have been in read-write heads and high-density data storage solutions. Quantum tunneling looks like the technology of the near future. The industry expects noteworthy growth in the next two to four years.
The first of these quantum tunneling products to get to the market is called the quantum tunneling composite. This path-breaking discovery by English scientists looks set to transform the world of sensing and switching forever.
The world is going the quantum way and quantum technologies look to be potential winners in the near term.
IEN: Can obstacles to wireless applications be overcome? Connectivity to low-power and ultra-low power devices?
Ramaswami: This is a question that is difficult to answer at this time. There is a lot of work going into development of distributed, miniature sensors. The reliability of the products is still to be proven.
Some of the evolving wireless communication technologies look promising but it still is quite early days to give a conclusive opinion.
IEN: How can sensitive data be protected in a network environment? Can 24/7 monitoring be assured in Ethernet-based systems?
Ramaswami: There has been an increased awareness of late about protecting data, particularly data on a network. Emerging data protection standards incorporate the new developments in cryptography and biometrics.
The challenges to network security stem from the integrated nature of information interchange and the explosion of mobile devices. Some of the challenges that are facing the information security professional include:
- Extending the security perimeter to include PCs and PDAs that connect to networks
- Extending the security blanket to the wireless world
- Target against malicious codes from the Internet
- Balancing privacy issues with information and national security.
The field of information security is among the hottest IT research topics.
IEN: How are sensing and machine vision being used in collaborative manufacturing? The extended enterprise (logistics, etc.)?
Ramaswami: The use of intelligent sensors (including machine vision) in collaborative manufacturing takes the traditional manufacturing model to an Internet-driven world. With a system of distributed sensors in place to collect and disseminate data, even the lowest levels of the production process can be monitored and regulated remotely.
Factory floor monitoring and control systems to power the next generation collaborative manufacturing techniques will rely on vast improvements in the distributed sensing and communication systems under development.