A high-efficiency GaAs solar cell to power the Internet of Tiny Things The Michigan Micro Mote gets a new gallium arsenide solar cell for added power and adaptability. [Full Story] Microscopic smart dust sensors are set to revolutionise a range of sectors The New Economy interviews Prof. David Blaauw about millimetre-scale devices that could reinvent the Internet of Things and lead to breakthroughs in a variety of applications, including biomedical implants. [Full Story] SLAM-ming good hardware for drone navigation Researchers built the first visual SLAM processor on a single chip that provides highly accurate, low-power, and real-time results. [Full Story] U-M startup raises $6 million in venture fundingMovellus is a U-M startup founded by alumni Dr. Mo Faisal (now CEO) and Dr. Jeff Fredenburg (now VP of Engineering). [Full Story] Movellus Raises $6M in Venture Funding, Led by Stata Venture Partners Movellus is a U-M startup founded by alumni Dr. Mo Faisal (now CEO) and Dr. Jeff Fredenburg (now VP of Engineering). [Full Story] Teeny-Tiny Bluetooth Transmitter Runs on Less Than 1 Milliwatt This article published by IEEE Spectrum highlights some of the latest advances of the radio embedded in the millimeter-scale computer known as the Michigan Micro Mote (M3). The research, by Professors David Wentzloff, David Blaauw, and Hun Seok Kim, and ECE graduate students Yao Shi and Xing Chen, was presented recently at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. [Full Story] 2019 EECS Outstanding Achievement Awards Congratulations to Profs. Valeria Bertacco, Robert Dick, Rada Mihalcea, and Vijay Subramanian, for their extraordinary contributions in research, teaching, and service. [Full Story] Michigan is making tech tiny ... very tinyDavid Blaauw explains the newest and smallest dust-sized computing system developed by a team of electrical and computer engineers. [Full Story] Michigan chips will be first to test next-generation hardware design tools Professors Sylvester, Blaauw, and Dreslinski will test tools and provide feedback in a national program that aims to build free, open-source electronic design automation tools. [Full Story] Enabling anyone to design hardware with a new open-source tool In a $6.5 million U-M-led project that could revolutionize and democratize designing hardware devices, Professors Wentzloff, Blaauw, Dreslinski, and Sylvester will work to create an open-source hardware compiler that aims to reduce the six month process of hand-designing analog circuits to a dramatically faster and automated 24-hour routine. [Full Story] World's tiniest 'computer' makes a grain of rice seem massiveIt could lead to big changes in health monitoring, writes Jon Fingas on engadget. [Full Story] The Smallest Computer in the World Fits On a Grain of RiceThe University of Michigan just defeated IBM in creating this tiny computing device, writes Laura Yan of Popular Mechanics. [Full Story] The World's Smallest Computer Can Fit on the Tip of a Grain of RiceThe University of Michigan was salty that IBM made a smaller computer than it did, so it made an even smaller computer, writes Kaleigh Rogers of Motherboard. [Full Story] Hun-Seok Kim receives DARPA Young Faculty Award to advance research in IoT networks Kim's research is expected to impact the future design and wireless operation of the next generation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which includes intelligent control of devices such as drones and self-driving cars. [Full Story] An even smaller world's smallest computer The Michigan team behind the original Michigan Micro Mote, the world's smallest computer, has gone even smaller, with a device that measures just 0.3 mm to a side -- dwarfed by a grain of rice. [Full Story] Startup Maps AI into Flash Array Mythic, founded by EECS aIumnus David Fick (CTO) and Mike Henry (CEO), is profiled in EE Times as they aims to put neural networks into flash memory. The company started in the Michigan Integrated Circuits Lab (MICL), where Fick was advised by, and Henry worked with as a postdoctoral researcher for, Profs. David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester. [Full Story] Mythic snags $40 million to advance AI chips Mythic, founded by EECS aIumnus David Fick (CTO) and Mike Henry (CEO), raised $40M in investment to produce custom chips created to power AI applications. The company had its start in the Michigan Integrated Circuits Lab (MICL), where Fick was advised by, and Henry worked with as a postdoctoral researcher for, Profs. David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester. Among the first employees are alumni Laura Fick and Skylar Skrzyniarz, both also MICL students advised by Blaauw and Sylvester. [Full Story] Seed-sized U-M computers pumped into oil wells featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Science A specially created version of the Michigan Micro Mote, measuring 5mmx5mm, is being featured for its role in oil exploration as part of a new exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. [Full Story] 2017 ISCA Influential Paper Award for Groundbreaking Research in Power-efficient Computing For their groundbreaking research in power-efficient computing, faculty and former students of the department received the 2017 ACM SIGARCH and IEEE-CS TCCA ISCA Influential Paper Award. The researchers developed a method to intelligently put parts of a computer's memory into a low power mode to save energy. Since 2002, the technique has been adopted by major chip manufacturers, and has continued to be exploited in subsequent research by the authors themselves. [Full Story] Speck-Size Computers: Now With Deep Learning The author describes the Michigan Micro Mote and research by David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester presented at the 2017 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. They presented 10 papers in all related to the micromote computers. [Full Story] SSCS Distinguished Lecturer Edith Beigne on Auto-adaptive digital circuits Dr. Edith Beign presented the talk Auto-adaptive digital circuits Application to low-power Multicores and ultra-low-power Wireless Sensor Nodes to members of the Michigan Integrated Circuits Laboratory. Dr. Beign came to Michigan as a 2016-17 Distinguished Lecturer under the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) Distinguished Lecturer Program. This program features researchers who are known for the quality and quantity of their research, and are considered to be excellent speakers. [Full Story] Michigan's Millimeter-Scale Computers featured at ISSCC2017, and in IEEE Spectrum Profs. David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester presented a total of 10 papers at the 2017 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC). Most were related to their Michigan Micro Mote (M3) computers. Their goal is to make smarter, smaller sensors for medical devices and the Internet of Things that can do more with less energy. [Full Story] CubeWorks: Solving Problems with the Worlds Smallest and Lowest-power Computers CubeWorks, founded by the team at University of Michigan that developed the Michigan Micro Mote (M3), the worlds smallest computer, has been flying under the radar since late in 2013. This startup company specializes in the worlds smallest and lowest-power sensing technology. With its first outside funding from Intel (see the press release), the CEO of CubeWorks is now looking two years into the future, when he hopes to be manufacturing millimeter-scale computing devices for their first customers. [Full Story] Michael Flynn Earns U-M Faculty Recognition Award Prof. Michael Flynn has received a Faculty Recognition Award for his accomplishments in research, teaching, and service to the University. Prof. Flynn is one of the world's premier scholars in the area of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and systems, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), and other interface circuits. His pioneering research and designs have improved the performance and energy efficiency of analog-digital interfaces and transformed the field. [Full Story] What Surveillance Will Look Like in the Future: Even Bugs Will Be Bugged Prof. David Blaauw gets a mention in the Atlantic for building the world's smallest computers, which can be equipped with cameras and other sensors. [Full Story] David Blaauw Honored with SIA/SRC University Research Award Prof. David Blaauw was presented with the University Research Award by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in consultation with Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to semiconductor research in the area of design research. He was presented with the award by the SIA Board on September 21, 2016 in San Jose, CA. [Full Story] Screen Savers: The World's Smallest Computer The new episode of Screen Savers features Prof. David Blaauw, whose team has developed the world's smallest computer. The Michigan Micro Mote (M3) works as a fully functioning computer on the millimeter scale. [Full Story] Tiny Computer Has Enormous Potential "The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., has a new addition - one that is at the cutting edge of new computer technology. It isnt a breakthrough new powerhouse in computing, but instead a computer so small that one of the devices can sit on the edge of a coin." It's the Michigan Micro Mote! [Full Story] Video of the week: Injectable radio broadcasts through flesh in real-time The Engineer highlighted research by Prof. David Wentzloff and David Blaauw on an injectable radio that can broadcast from inside the human body. This latest advance will enable the relay of information in real-time to devices monitoring heart fibrillation as well as glucose monitoring for diabetics. [Full Story] Injectable Computers Can Broadcast from Inside the Body Profs. David Blaauw and David Wenzloff are designing millimeter-scale ultra-low-power sensing systems that can be injected into the body through a syringe. Unlike other radios of this size, these new devices are able to broadcast through the human body to an external receiver. [Full Story] Fundamental science will play a key role in finding cancer cure Prof. David Blaauw is part of a team that NSF recently funded to develop millimeter-sized, ultra-low-power electronic biosensors for implantation in tumors to determine chemotherapy impacts. Monitoring of tumor micro-environments during therapy could inform chemotherapy duration, result in more successful chemotherapy and advance the science of implantable biosensors. [Full Story] Avish Kosari Selected as Barbour Scholar for Research in Low-Power Devices for the Internet of Things Avish Kosari, PhD student in ECE, was selected to be a Barbour Scholar by the Rackham Graduate School. Avish conducts research on ultra-low power and battery-less integrated circuits. She is a member of the wireless integrated circuits and systems group, directed by Prof. David Wentzloff, designing devices that will help enable the Internet of Things and a connected world. [Full Story] MBus is the Missing Interconnect for Millimeter-Scale Systems Looking ahead to millimeter scale computing and the future of ubiquitous computing, EECS faculty members David Blaauw, Prabal Dutta, graduate students Patrick Pannuto and Benjamin Kempke, research scientist Ye-Sheng Kuo, and a number of other Michigan researchers have created MBus, a chip-to-chip interconnect that facilitates an ultra-low power system operation. [Full Story] Power Harvesting Sensor Patch Uses Your Body As a Battery IEEE Spectrum reported on a sensor patch that can power itself by using thermoelectric materials to turn the temperature difference between your body and the surrounding air into electricity. The project, based at North Caroline State University's Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors (ASSIST), involves Prof. David Wentzloff, who specializes in integrated circuit design for adaptable wireless communication systems. [Full Story] Injectable Radios to Broadcast From Inside the Body IEEE Spectrum reported on medical devices being developed at Michigan that may one day be small enough to go through a syringe. Professors David Blaauw and David Wentzloff are collaborating with researchers at the U-M medical school to come up with the first test application. These devices will be able to monitor oxygen, glucose, and other biometrics, or follow disease progression in tumors. [Full Story] Googling the Physical World David Wentzloff wants to get rid of batteries and build the Internet of Things - a "Google of the physical world." This undertaking will use trillions of tiny sensors embedded in everything you can think of, communicating wirelessly. With his company PsiKick, David hopes to provide the technology that makes it happen. [Full Story] PsiKick Makes the Sand Hill IoT 50 Needle Movers Sand Hill looked at 50 companies that will form the basic foundation of technologies that address several Internet of Things problems. PsiKick made the list for its ultra-low-power wireless sensing devices that address the power barrier problem. Low power requirements allow energy to be harvested from vibration, thermal gradients, solar, RF or piezo actuation. PsiKick is was co-founded by Prof. David Wentzloff. [Full Story] Claude Gauthier and OmniPhy: Connecting to the Ethernet Revolution Call ECE alum Claude Gauthier a global personality. A Canadian with two Michigan degrees, a Silicon Valley career, founder of international company OmniPhy, and customers across six continents, he has navigated his connections to destinations he never expected. [Full Story] 3 ECE Companies Make the Silicon 60 List - AGAIN! For the second year in a row, three startup companies co-founded by ECE faculty alumni made the EE Times Silicon 60 List of tech startups to watch. Ambiq Micro (Prof. David Blaauw, Prof. Dennis Sylvester, and alumnus Dr. Scott Hanson), Crossbar, Inc. (Prof. Wei Lu), and PsiKick (Prof. David Wentzloff), are leading the way in ultra-low power chip design, pioneering computer memory, and ultra-low power wireless sensor platforms for the Internet of Things. [Full Story] David Wentzloff Receives Joel and Ruth Spira Excellence in Teaching Award Prof. David Wentzloff received the 2015 Joel and Ruth Spira Excellence in Teaching Award for his exceptional achievements in the education of our students. He has received the HKN Professor of the Year Award twice in recent years, and invites undergraduate as well as graduate students to be members of his Wireless Integrated Circuits and Systems Group [Full Story] Stryd, co-founded by Prof. Robert Dick, Selected as Part of the 2015 Techstars Class Stryd, co-founded by Prof. Robert Dick, has been chosen as one of ten companies in the 2015 Techstars class in Boulder, CO. Techstars provides mentorship and seed funding to select companies in different locations nationwide. Stryd applies the concept of power output to a wearable device for runners to help them improve their performance, [Full Story] Mud-Fueled Smart Sensors for the Bottom of the Ocean If you put tiny electrodes in the mud on the ocean floor, you can harvest enough energy to power a tiny sensor platform that can monitor whats going on at those depths. The sensing platform draws just 2 nanowatts, and is part of a broader portfolio of work focused on powering electronic systems with low energy sources. [Full Story] At 50 Years Old, The Challenge To Keep Up With Moores Law NPRs All Tech Considered: Fifty years ago this week, a chemist in what is now Silicon Valley published a paper that set the groundwork for the digital revolution. That man was Gordon Moore. Moores Law is all about electronic miniaturization, and the article talks about the worlds smallest computer, the Michigan Micro Mote, currently on display at the Computer History Museum. [Full Story] Thomas Chen Earns NSF Fellowship for Research in Artificial Neural Networks for Computer Vision Thomas Chen has been awarded an NSF Fellowship to pursue his research in the design of efficient artificial neural networks for computer vision. Thomas and his group were able to design custom hardware architectures for efficient and high-performance implementations of a sparse coding algorithm called the sparse and independent local network (SAILnet). [Full Story] The Crazy-Tiny Next Generation of Computers This article in Medium describes Prof. Prabal Dutta's interest in Smart Dust - a network of tiny, sensor-enabled autonomous computers - and its ability to to measure everyday data to solve issues of critical sustainability. It traces how he began collaborating with Profs. David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester on the development of the Michigan Micro Mote (M3), which is now the world's smallest and first millimeter scale computer. [Full Story] Elnaz Ansari Earns Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement Elnaz Ansari, PhD candidate in EE, has received the Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement. Elnaz implements large-scale analog circuits using automatic design techniques that are mostly used in digital system designs. Using these techniques, she has fabricated a high-speed, high-resolution digital to analog converter (DAC) in 65nm CMOS technology. [Full Story] This is the worlds smallest computer CBS News did a video and story about the Michigan Micro Mote (M3), which is the world's smallest computer and the world's first millimeter scale computer. "As the Internet of Things (IoT) gets bigger, the Michigan team is pushing to make computers ever smaller." [Full Story] Michigan Micro Mote (M3) Makes History Michigan Micro Mote (M3), the worlds smallest computer, is taking its place among other revolutionary accomplishments in the history of computing at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. Measuring in at less than a half a centimeter, it is a fully autonomous computing system that acts as a smart sensing system. [Full Story] EE Times Highlights ECE Research at ISSCC EE Times offered 18 Views of ISSCC through photos of some of the most interesting and cutting-edge products and research shown at the event. They showcased research by Prof. Blaauw, Prof. Sylvester, and graduate student Wootaek Lim. The chip is an ARM Cortex-M0+ running off a 0.09mm2 solar cell that puts out 400 picowatts, thanks to novel circuits designed to suppress power leakage. Electronics360 previewed the work, calling it a stand-out paper. [Electronics360 preview] Stryd, co-founded by Prof. Robert Dick, about to launch wearable technology for runners Prof. Robert Dick is co-founder of Stryd, a startup company that is getting ready to launch what they are calling the worlds first wearable power meter for runners. The device promises to help runners improve efficiency, monitor individual progress, and simplify training. [Full Story] Prof. Michael Flynn Elected IEEE Fellow for Contributions to Analog-Digital Interfaces Prof. Michael Flynn has been elected IEEE Fellow for contributions to analog-digital interfaces. He has achieved important breakthroughs in the performance and energy efficiency of analog-digital interfaces. His research has significantly impacted three primary areas: 1) analog to digital conversion; 2) the analog-digital interface in wired and wireless communication systems; and 3) applications to complete systems, particularly brain-machine interfaces. [Full Story] Talking Book trial to help poorest of poor in Ghana [BBC News: Nov 20] Hundreds of handheld audio computers, called Talking Books, are to be given to some of Ghana's poorest communities to help spread potentially life-saving information. Leading the low power chip design for the devices at Michigan are Profs. David Blaauw and Peter Chen. [Full Story] Prof. Robert Dick to Apply Cyber Information to Air Quality Management Prof. Robert Dick, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and specialist in embedded systems, received a CyberSEES grant to study the impact of weather and human activity on production of, and exposure to, ozone and other air pollutants. [Full Story] Scott Hanson Receives 2014 Arbor Networks Ph.D. Research Impact Award Scott Hanson (BSE MSE PhD EE '04 '06 '09) has been selected to receive the 2014 Arbor Networks Ph.D. Research Impact Award. Dr. Hanson is the co-founder, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering of Ambiq Micro, a startup semiconductor company that has big plans to lead the low-power revolution in electronics by powering the Internet of Things. [Full Story] These Energy-Saving, Batteryless Chips Could Soon Power The Internet Of Things The story focuses on how the new Michigan/UVa start-up company, PsiKick, is going to help enable the Internet of Things thanks to their very low power processing, called subthreshold processing. Also mentioned is the Michigan startup, Ambiq Micro, which has also entered the low power revolution. [Full Story] Student Spotlight: Gyouho Kim - A big talent for creating tiny devices Gyouho Kim is completing his thesis in electrical engineering in the area of ultra-low power VLSI design. He is designing a millimeter-scale visual system that is complete with optics, processing capability and battery. Solar cells are used to harvest the minuscule amount of energy needed to operate. [Full Story] Student teams earn prizes for their ADC circuit designs in EECS 511 Students in the graduate level course, Integrated Analog/Digital Interface Circuits (EECS 511), taught by Prof. Michael Flynn, competed for cash prizes while presenting their final design projects thanks to the support of Analog Devices, Inc. Two winning projects and teams were determined by an expert panel at Analog Devices. [Full Story] Leaders in Ultra Low Power Circuits and Systems Presenting at VLSI Circuits Symposium Michigan faculty and students will present seven papers at the 2014 Symposium on VLSI Circuits, a number that exceeds any other academic institution or company. The seven papers range from a millimeter-scale wireless imaging system, to a chip that can decipher an image in a manner similar to the human brain, to continued optimization of the circuits we use every day, as well as circuits that will fuel the future Internet of Things. One of the papers, Low Power Battery Supervisory Circuit with Adaptive Battery Health Monitor, has been selected as a Symposium Technical Highlight. [Full Story] Powering the Internet of Things (video) Prof. David Wentzloff describes the future Internet of Things, a world that he and his colleagues in the Michigan Integrated Circuits Laboratory are enabling with their ultra low power circuits and systems. These sensing systems can detect air quality, bodily health, and whether you forgot to turn off your stove and send that information to your phone. [Full Story] Bringing batteryless sensors to market PsiKick, an ultra-low-power wireless sensor company co-founded by Prof. David Wentzloff, has completed first-round, funding. The financing, led by New Enterprise Associates, will be used to accelerate PsiKick's growth and product development to meet the increasing demand for energy-efficient system-on-a-chip technology. [Full Story] Muhammad Faisal Wins Business Competition with Technology Critical to the Internet of Things Muhammad Faisal came to Michigan knowing he wanted to start a company. About to graduate with his PhD in electrical engineering, he has been making some great headway lately by winning the 2014 Michigan Business Challenge. His company is currently called Movellus Circuits, and its product is a patent-pending clock generator technology that is smaller, cheaper and faster than existing solutions. [Full Story] Ask Anything: What Happens In Your Computer When You Turn It On? No, the little mouse inside it does not start scrambling around. Prof. David Blaauw describes the circuit that plays a role in turning on your computer, and then keeps it from getting confused, in a brief article in Popular Science. [Full Story] Students rewarded for their circuit designs in EECS 413 The course, Monolithic Amplifier Circuits, has a tradition of offering prizes for the top final projects designed by the students, thanks to the support of industry. This year Tektronix awarded cash prizes to 2 teams for the projects: Adaptive Bandwidth PLL and Inductorless Wideband Balun-LNA. [Full Story] Avish Kosari Receives Rackham International Student Fellowship Avish Kosari, a graduate student in the Electrical Engineering program, received a Rackham International Student Fellowship to continue her studies as a doctoral student in Prof. David Wentzloff's research group. [Full Story] Making the Internet of Things Happen Prof. David Wentzloff is helping to make a worldwide Internet of Things more than a dream through his research in low-power wireless communication, and more recently, through his new startup company called PsiKick. [Full Story] Bharan Giridhar awarded Intel PhD Fellowship Bharan Giridhar, a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering, has been selected to receive an Intel Corporation Ph.D. Fellowship to pursue his research in VLSI chip design, with an emphasis on developing circuit techniques for adaptive and reliable, high-performance computing. [Full Story] Zhengya Zhang Receives Intel Early Career Award Prof. Zhengya Zhang has been selected to receive s a 2013 Intel Early Career Faculty Honor Program award. This award was created to connect Intel with the best and brightest early career faculty members who show great promise as future academic leaders in disruptive computing technologies. Prof. Zhang's research is in the area of low-power and high-performance VLSI circuits and systems. [Full Story] Student teams earn prizes for their ADC circuit designs in EECS 511 Students in the graduate level course, Integrated Analog/Digital Interface Circuits (EECS 511), competed for cash prizes while presenting their final design projects thanks to the support of Analog Devices, Inc. The winning projects were designed for battery-operated mobile applications as well as instrumentation and measurement applications. [Full Story] 7th Annual AMD/Michigan Student Design Contest Thanks to the sponsorship of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., students in the Fall 2012 EECS 427 (VLSI Design I) class competed against their classmates for cash prizes in the 7th Annual AMD/Michigan Student Design Contest. This year, more than 60 students took this team project-oriented, major design experience course. [Full Story] IEEE Spectrum: Better Eyes for Flying Robots [Full Story] Better Eyes for Flying Robots Dongsuk Jeon, a graduate student working with Zhengya Zhang and IEEE Fellows David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, outlined an approach to drastically lower the power of the very first stage of any vision systemthe feature extractor. That system uses an algorithm to draw out potentially important features like circles and squares from an overall image. [Full Story] Prof. Dennis Sylvester Receives U-M Faculty Recognition Award Prof. Dennis Sylvester was selected to receive a U-M Faculty Recognition Award. This award recognizes "mid-career faculty who have demonstrated remarkable contributions to the University through outstanding achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors; excellence as a teacher, advisor and mentor; and distinguished participation in the service activities of the university and elsewhere." [Full Story] Gyouho Kim awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship for research in ultra-low power optical interfaces for mm-scale wireless sensor nodes Gyouho Kim, a graduate student in the Electrical Engineering program, received a Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship to support his research while he completes his dissertation entitled, Ultra-Low Power Optical Interfaces for Nearly Invisible Cubic-Millimeter Wireless Sensor Nodes. [Full Story] Bharan Giridhar awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship for research in circuit techniques for adaptive, reliable, high-performance computing Bharan Giridhar, a graduate student in the Electrical Engineering program, received a Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship to support his research while he completes his dissertation entitled, Circuit Techniques for Adaptive and Reliable, High-Performance Computing. [Full Story] CPU, Heal Thyself Prof. David Blaauw writes about his work on a fault-monitoring microprocessor design can save power or allow overclocking. [Full Story] David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester Named Top Authors by ISSCC Prof. David Blaauw and Prof. Dennis Sylvester have been named two of the top 16 contributing authors in the last 60 years to the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), which is the flagship conference of the Solid-State Circuits Society. [Full Story] David Wentzloff Receives CAREER Award for Research in Energy-Autonomous Systems Prof. David Wentzloff, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was recently awarded an NSF CAREER award for his research project, "Ultra-Low Power Radios for Energy-Autonomous Systems." [Full Story] Students in EECS 413 awarded prizes for their circuit designs Students in the course Monolithic Amplifier Circuits earned cash prizes for their final projects, all implemented in a commercial 0.13m CMOS process. The winning projects were "A Rail to Rail Class AB Amplifier" and "Ultra Low Power Crystal Oscillator." [Full Story] Nathan Roberts Earns Best Paper Award for Research to Assist in Remote Patient Monitoring Nathan Roberts designed an ultra-low power receiver for wireless sensor node applications that operates using nanowatts of power. The research will facilitate remote patient monitoring through wireless body area networks. His work earned him Best Student Paper Award at the 2012 IEEE Subthreshold Microelectronics Conference. [Full Story] Green Computing: Higher Energy Efficiency from Silicon to the Cloud For decades, researchers and industry have been focused on increasing computing performance by increasing transistor density and shrinking the size of computing devices. But with the continued scaling of computing systems to sizes only theorized a decade ago, combined with the prevalence of mobile devices, social networking, cloud computing, and the cost of powering huge data centers, the computing paradigm has changed. Energy efficiency is now a primary consideration at all levels of computing. [Full Story] Energy and Power: Engineering Sustainable Solutions From the Macro to the Micro Levels There is no shortage of energy being devoted to finding new and sustainable energy solutions. Even amidst the current economic challenges, the U.S. government is supporting these efforts with nearly a 50% increase in funding for energy-related research that includes energy efficiency and renewable energy, smart grid and efficient electrical transmission, green cars, and basic scientific research. [Full Story] |