NEM switches: sense, compute and communicate in extreme environments

From baking bread to baking aircraft wings, all the way to monitoring nuclear waste, we aim to exploit the unique properties of nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches. Our NEM switches can replace transistors, the building blocks of conventional electronics, which struggle to work in these examples. In i-EDGE, we wish to use our technology to enable sensing and computing at extremes of temperature and high radiation levels, whilst still consuming very little power. By achieving this, we hope to truly assist an Internet of Things to have the unmatched capability to survive, compute and communicate at the extremes of its “Edge”.

Our project’s objective is to provide a sensor platform demonstrator using a "system in a package" (SiP) where sensors, processor, memory and wireless transmission are integrated into a rugged package. In general, where data is processed at an IoT data gathering device (such as our platform) instead of in the cloud, data traffic is greatly reduced. This can increase efficiency, improve security and reduce energy consumption. For example, our demonstrator sensor platform may enable the shortest baking times by real time wireless measurement from the middle of large oven loads without the inconvenience of temperature sensor wires… monitor baking from the comfort of your desk armchair with your mobile phone!

Our project aims to lay the foundations of a business utilising our revolutionary new NEM switch technology. We will be aided and guided in our objective by our Business Interest Group (BIG), a group of interested customers, suppliers and investors. Our BIG will ensure our demonstrators will be application and market oriented, and will fill existing technological gaps.