Sensors research recommendations

Products and processes based on electrochemical phenomena at present contribute nearly 30 billion per year to the gross national product of the United States. New additional markets having annual sales on the order of 20 billion are projected for electrochemical products and processes within the next decade. These markets include microelectronics, sensors, surface processing, membrane separations, advanced batteries and fuel cells, and corrosion control, among others. At present, however, there are no major federal programs focused on the broad range of electrochemical phenomena that underpin these areas, with the exception of batteries and fuel cells. (For the latter two areas, research recommendations are summarized in earlier reports—NMAB-390, Assessment of Research Needs for Advanced Battery Systems, and NMAB-411, Fuel Cell Materials Technology in Vehicular Propulsion.)... 

In contrast to this, sample presentation is thoroughly investigated. On behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment, TNO investigated the influence of flow rate in relation to dilution factor, both analytically and sensorically. The flow rate varied from 6 to 35 1/min. Propane concentrations were measured at the back of the nose of an artificial head through which 20 1/min. was sucked continuously. Sensory measurements were carried out with butanol and ethylbutyrate. The results are summarized in figure 1. Based on this research 16 1/min. was recommended as the minimal sample flow rate. 

MAJOR limitation TO research on surface-exchange and flux measurements is the lack of sensitive, reliable, and fast-response chemical species sensors that can be used for eddy correlation flux measurement. Therefore we recommend that continued effort and resources be expended in developing chemical species sensors with the responsiveness and sensitivity required for direct eddy correlation flux measurements. This recommendation (I) was assigned the first priority in the report of the recent Global Tropospheric Chemistry workshop jointly convened by the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The authors of the report recognized that the limited availability of fast, accurate chemical sensors is a major measurement challenge in the field of atmospheric chemistry. 

Our own work with aerogels as platforms for chemical sensors has been funded by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF MRI CTS-0216153, NSF RUI CHE-0514527, NSF MRI CMMl-0722842, and NSF RUI CHE-0847901) and the American Chemical Society s Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF 39796-BlO). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. 

Any object whose temperature Is greater than absolute zero emits radiation. Since radiation emitted by the human body falls within a well-defined spectral range. It Is theoretically possible to detect the Intrusion of humans Into a robotic workplace by using Infrared sensors. Unfortunately, many other objects such as electric light bulbs emit radiation In the same spectral range as the human body. Therefore, Infrared devices are subject to frequent false triggerings. These devices have been examined by a few researchers who do not recommend their use because of the above-mentioned reasons. 

Since some of the operational research reactors were constructed more than 30 years ago, it is recommend that surveillance instruments be installed to monitor in primary coolant pump. Inductive accelerometers and displacement sensors are widely used in nuclear power plants, and in the industry in general, and have been proven to be reliable. By monitoring piunp vibration, one can anticipate failure conditions and make the necessary repairs well in advance. 

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