A gripping presentation

Here is Sushmita’s talk from the 2021 Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference on designing microelectromechanical system (MEMS) layouts that align with one-of-a-kind structures like a piece of fabric. Most fabrics do have a uniform and predictable structure that can be described by a measurement such as “threads per inch.” However, threads do not have the submicron dimensional accuracy of a MEMS layout on a silicon wafer. Threads are soft, often made from natural fibers that vary from batch to batch, and conditions such as tension during assembly control the tightness of the weave or knit. Therefore, on the microscale, each piece of fabric is different. In this presentation, images of individual fabric pieces are processed to generate a MEMS gripper layout that will attach microdevices to specific fibers in the swatch. The focus of this research is on automated image processing methods that quickly identify good gripper locations. The desired result is a technology that lets engineers use flexible, porous, multimaterial fabrics as new packaging materials for MEMS devices.

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