How CAVE3 Works
The cross-disciplinary center includes 18 faculty from Auburn University’s mechanical, electrical and industrial and systems engineering departments and four staff, as well as 50 graduate and five undergraduate students. Twice a year, an advisory board of member industries meets to identify fundamental research needs. That list is then used to help identify specific projects, whose results are shared among the members. In addition, CAVE3’s highly specialized equipment, much of it custom designed, also makes the center an ideal location for application-specific projects.
“A company or agency can contract with us for targeted testing or research,” says Lall. “The current list includes the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, the Army and Hyundai.”
The center also leverages the expertise of faculty to offer professional development classes on a variety of topics related to extreme environment electronics.
“Electronics will be at the heart of addressing many of the grand challenges of the future, from attaining energy security, migration of fossil fuels, to providing access to clean water,” says Lall. “Harsh environment electronics will be required for a wide variety of applications. I believe that CAVE3’s mission will remain relevant for many years to come.”
Problem: Leaded solders being phased out of electronics due to environmental concerns Project: Test chips and boards constructed with nonlead solders for durability under a variety of conditions
Benefit: Electronics that are as reliable as those constructed with lead, but that minimize environmental impact
Problem: Transistor modules in hybrid electric vehicles must be continuously cooled to work Project: Testing modules made with metal matrix composites
Benefit: Hybrid vehicles that are reliable and energy efficient over a wide range of temperatures
Problem: Automobile safety sensors alert drivers of problems after they occur Project: Design electronics that monitor system health continuously no matter what the environmental condition
Benefit: Auto safety sensors that alert drivers of problems before they occur, making cars safer
