[Tyler]

Micro Turbine Developed at University of Maryland
     



We've reported on micro and nano sized
turbines in the past and today
they look one step closer to reality. The University of Maryland's A.
James Clark School of Engineering MEMS Sensors and
Acturators Lab issued a press
release detailing their latest work, including a microscale pump and
turbogenerator. Researcher Reza Ghodssi said, "for the first time, we
have achieved a level of miniaturization for machines like that achieved
over the last decades in electronics". The tiny turbine achieves
rotational speeds of 87,000 RPM, supported on micro-ball bearings so
small they're almost invisible to the naked eye. The US Army, which is
funding the research, hopes micro-turbines will replace the 20lbs of
bulky lithium ion batteries now carried by soldiers. The tiny generators
could also power micro air vehicles (MAV), small UAVs, and other
pint-sized robots. UMD has also released video
of the turbine in action (MPEG format). For all the technical stuff,
see the paper, Design,
Fabrication, and Characterization of a Rotary Micromotor Supported on
Microball Bearings (PDF format).

   

http://robots.net/article/2650.html