SST: Control-oriented Optimal Multisensor Design and Microfabrication for Structural Vibration Suppression in Mechatronic Systems (GOALI)

University Of California-Berkeley, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract 0428917 Robotp Horowitz Univ Calif/Berkeley In this project magnetic hard disk drives are used as the context to examine two problems in sensor development. First, how many sensors are necessary and what are their optimal placements for closed-loop and vibration suppression control of a flexible structure? Second, how can micro-scaled strain and vibration sensor fabrication techniques be incorporated into traditional manufacturing environments? Novel control-oriented techniques for the integrated design, fabrication and placement of multiple sensors for vibration suppression control and monitoring in mechatronic systems will be developed and integrated with MEMS sensor fabrication techniques on steel substrates to develop such a technology. Hutchison Technologies Inc. (HTI), the industrial partner in this project, will assemble the fabricated substrates with the finished sensors into prototype-instrumented suspensions for magnetic hard disk drives. These instrumented suspensions will be incorporated into dual-stage servo systems with MEMS microactuators already fabricated by the project research team, for evaluation of their performance. The project will provide students with the opportunity to learn mechatronic design approaches that cohesively integrate control systems theoretic design and analysis methodologies with CAD, FEM and mechanical design optimization methodologies, while simultaneously developing new MEMS processing techniques for embedding sensors into metal-mechanic devices. This is GOALI project supported under Sensors Initiative NSF 04-522.