214: Tiny Sensor Problems

Kristen Dorsey explained MEMS sensors: how do they work, how they are made, and what new ones we expect to see in the future. Kristen's website is kristendorsey.com. She is a professor of engineering at Smith College and runs the MicroSmithie. MEMS stands for microelectromechanical systems (Wiki). Used in some sensors, Galistan is a room-temp liquid with interesting properties (Wiki). A few interesting MEMS applications: Micronium: a tiny resonator making music 2-stroke gas engine Pinball machine One of Kristen's stretchy strain sensor, not MEMS (so you can see it)