Smart Dust*

The science/engineering goal of the Smart Dust project is to demonstrate that a complete sensor/communication system can be integrated into a cubic millimeter package. This involves both evolutionary and revolutionary advances in miniaturization, integration, and energy management. Any number of sensors could be integrated into such a package, for measuring a wide range of quantities including acceleration, position (GPS), orientation, magnetism, light, sound, temperature, pressure, humidity, airflow, passive infrared, contact, low-resolution video, various gases, biological agents, and neutrons. Actuators may also be attached, such as motor controllers, relays for 110 VAC, LCD displays, and legs and wings for locomotion. We started with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, shown in the time-line below, gradually miniaturizing until reaching the basic device of a few square millimeters on a fingertip shown below in February 2003. While still operated from batteries, once small enough, batteries will be replaced by solar cells, piezoelectric generators, or generators powered by tiny internal combustion engines. The range of a radio at such low power will be just 10s of meters, so a fairly dense array of Smart Dust sensors will be needed for some applications. *This project is not officially supported through CITRIS funds, but the faculty and topical affiliations are sufficiently strong that it is listed here for referral and convenience.