Dear friends of Science Astronomy Technology and Space

'Smart dust' to explore planets'
















Sand grain-sized particles could ride on Martian windsTiny "smart" devices that
can be borne on the wind like dust particles could be carried in space probes to
explore other planets, UK engineers say.
The devices would consist of a computer chip covered by a plastic sheath that
can change shape when a voltage is applied, enabling it to be steered.
Details were presented at the National Astronomy Meeting in Preston.
Dr John Barker, from the University of Glasgow, said the particles could use
wireless networking to form swarms.








We have a lot of obstacles to overcome before we are even ready to physically
test our designs

John Barker, University of Glasgow

Prof Barker interview

The idea of using millimetre-sized devices to explore far-flung locations is
nothing new, but Dr Barker and his colleagues are starting to look in detail at
how it might be achieved.
The professor at Glasgow's Nanoelectronics Research Centre said computer chips
of the size and sophistication required to meet the challenge already exist.
Smart dust could be packed into the nose cones of planetary probes and then
released into the atmospheres of planets, where they would be carried on the
wind. For a planet like Mars, smart dust particles would each have to be the
size of a grain of sand.
By applying a voltage to alter the shape of the polymer sheath surrounding the
chip, dust particle could be steered towards a target, even in high winds.
The swarm
The polymer sheath surrounding the computer chip could be made to wrinkle or
flatten out.
Wrinkling the plastic sheath would increase the drag on the particle, lifting it
higher on the wind. Flattening out the sheath would cause the particle to
plummet.
Wireless networking would allow these particles to form swarms, and Dr Barker's
team has carried out mathematical simulations to see how this would work.
"We envisage that most of the particles can only talk to their nearest
neighbours but a few can communicate at much longer distances.
"In our simulations, we have shown that a swarm of 50 dust particles can
organise themselves into a star formation, even in turbulent wind."
The ability to fly in formation would allow the processing of data to be spread,
or "distributed" between all the chips, and a collective signal to be beamed
back to a "mothership".
Small sensors
Scientists have already demonstrated smart dust that crams sensors, power
sources, digital communications and processing circuitry into a volume of a few
cubic centimetres.
If they were to be used for planetary exploration, smart dust particles would
have to carry sensors. But current chemical sensors would be too large to be
carried on particles the size of sand grains.
The scientists hope the pace of miniaturisation will make smaller sensors
available in coming decades.
"We are still at an early stage, working on simulations and components," said Dr
Barker.
"We have a lot of obstacles to overcome before we are even ready to physically
test our designs."
Many other applications have been proposed for smart dust. One idea is to use
particles to gather information on battlefields. Another idea involves mixing
the particles into concrete to internally monitor the health of buildings and
bridges.

Forwarded By Dr.BHUDIA-Science Group Of
INDIA.http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/venustransit_2004/President:"Kutch
Science Foundation".Founder :"Kutch Amateurs Astronomers Club - Bhuj -
Kutch".Life Member:kutch Itihaas Parishad.kutchscience@...,
kutchscience@...,http://uk.geocities.com/wildlifeofkutch/
http://www.geocities.com/kutchsciencehttp://profiles.yahoo.com/kutchscience2000h\
ttp://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/scienceclubofindiahttp://in.groups.yahoo.com/gro\
up/kutchsciencehttp://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/kachchhhttp://in.groups.yahoo.co\
m/group/bhuj
Do visit our ABOVE Clubs/Groups of Science club of India, ScienceGroup of India.

_________________________________________________________________
Try Live.com: where your online world comes together - with news, sports,
weather, and much more.
http://www.live.com/getstarted

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]