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Electronics . . . we love them. In our cars, appliances and communications devices, these complex systems provide comfort, safety and entertainment. Increasingly, they are also being asked to do all of this and more under some very tough environmental conditions.<\/p>\n
Enter CAVE3<\/sup>, also known as Auburn University\u2019s Center for Advanced Vehicle and Extreme Environment Electronics, a National Science Foundation (NSF) industry\/university cooperative research center (I\/UCRC). The I\/UCRC program was launched two decades ago to encourage partnerships between industry and academia with the goal of transferring university developed ideas, research results and technology to U.S. industry to improve global competitiveness. CAVE3<\/sup>, one of the program\u2019s success stories, pairs Auburn with industry partners to do the pre-competitive research needed to build electronics that can handle the future . . . no matter how tough.<\/p>\n So what do we mean by tough? It can mean cell phone electronics that can withstand a bumpy ride down two flights of concrete stairs or a drop from a second story balcony without missing a ring. It can also mean that electronics designed to make your fuel efficient car work flawlessly despite exposure to vibration, moisture, salt and temperatures that can vary from minus 40\u00baC to plus 125\u00baC. Then, of course, there are the electronics that enable us to explore space or search for oil deep below the surface of the earth where temperatures fluctuate from minus 120\u00baC to plus 225\u00baC.<\/p>\n Sharing the Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cResearch to advance the durability of electronics in harsh environments is expensive, often requiring high up-front technological risk,\u201d explains Pradeep Lall, CAVE3<\/sup> director. \u201cThe center brings competitors together in a university research center environment to do the work needed to advance technology in this discipline. We focus on precompetitive fundamentals which industries can then use to develop their own innovative solutions for the marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n Lall is proud of the fact that the Auburn center recently received an NSF Phase III grant, a nod to its long-term effectiveness. The 25 industry\/agency members include heavy hitters such as NASA, U.S. Army, John Deere Electronic Systems (JDES) and Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n For every dollar invested in CAVE3<\/sup> research and development, there is a direct value created of $56. When you consider the opportunity to direct money these firms would have spent on research into ventures with less risk and more immediate returns, you get a solid return of $148 for each dollar invested. According to Lall, these firms sign on because they recognize the value of working together.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Advanced Technology Group at JDES believes that CAVE3<\/sup> at Auburn has provided significant value to our organization during our six-year association, and we look forward to continued collaboration,\u201d says Paul Nystuen, advanced technology manager with JDES.<\/p>\n 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<\/sup>\u2019s highly specialized equipment, much of it custom designed, also makes the center an ideal location for application-specific projects.<\/p>\n \u201cA company or agency can contract with us for targeted testing or research,\u201d says Lall. \u201cThe current list includes the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, the Army and Hyundai.\u201d<\/p>\n The center also leverages the expertise of faculty to offer professional development classes on a variety of topics related to extreme environment electronics.<\/p>\n \u201cElectronics 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,\u201d says Lall. \u201cHarsh environment electronics will be required for a wide variety of applications. I believe that CAVE3<\/sup>\u2019s mission will remain relevant for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Problem: <\/strong>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<\/p>\n Benefit: <\/strong>Electronics that are as reliable as those constructed with lead, but that minimize environmental impact<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Problem:<\/strong> Transistor modules in hybrid electric vehicles must be continuously cooled to work Project: Testing modules made with metal matrix composites<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Benefit: <\/strong>Hybrid vehicles that are reliable and energy efficient over a wide range of temperatures<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Problem:<\/strong> Automobile safety sensors alert drivers of problems after they occur Project: Design electronics that monitor system health continuously no matter what the environmental condition<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Benefit: <\/strong>Auto safety sensors that alert drivers of problems before they occur, making cars safer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Electronics . . . we love them. In our cars, appliances and communications devices, these complex systems provide comfort, safety and entertainment. Increasingly, they are also being asked to do all of this and more under some very tough environmental conditions. Enter CAVE3, also known as Auburn University\u2019s Center for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ecm.eng.auburn.edu\/wp\/emag\/wp-includes\/js\/tinymce\/plugins\/wordpress\/img\/trans.gif\"){kind=spacer}
\n<\/p>\nHow CAVE3<\/sup> Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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