News & Progress

(i) Summary of published output

To date research conducted under the Basic Technology Programme in nanorobotics resulted in a total of 54 technical publications, 2 patents, organisation of 13 scientific meetings, over 35 presentations and the training of 14 young researchers in the field.

(ii) Open Day & Workshop

On Monday 25th June 2007 the NanoLAB organised, funded by the EPSRC, an In-situ Nanomanipulation Open Day and Workshop in Mappin Hall, University of Sheffield. The purpose of the meeting was to present the novel Basic Technology pursued in the project to an international audience of industry and academia. The schedule included four invited speakers from around the world and a poster session. The delegates were welcomed by Professor Geof Tomlinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Dr Beverley Inkson, Director of the NanoLAB both from the University of Sheffield. Project-internal speakers included: Dr BJ Inkson, TEM nanopositioning and indentation, Dr G Möbus, TEM nanotomography, Prof P Beton (Nottingham), TEM-STM, Prof AG Cullis, TEM-SEM-FIB nanomanipulation & nanotools, Dr B Amavasai (SHU), Intelligent nanorobotics control, and Prof P Hatton, Testing of bio-nanocomposites.

Following networking over lunch, the afternoon session consisted of presentations from three international speakers:

Prof M.S. Bobji, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India: "Deformation Mechanics through Nanoindentation and Electron Microscopy"

Dr Qing Chen, Peking University, China: "In situ measuring and modifying carbon nanotubes and nanowires using nanomanipulators inside SEM and TEM"

Dr Michael Uchic, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, USA: "New Methodologies for Evaluating Mechanical Properties at the Micro-scale"

(iii) Mid-Term evaluation

Following on from the Open Day, the EPSRC and a panel of external experts, not directly involved in the project, evaluated the progress and perspectives of the Basic Technology project at mid-term. The outcome was very successful and encouraging for the entire team and its collaborators.

(iv) Translation-Grant and Follow-on-Funding

The Basic Technology Nanorobotics team was invited to apply to EPSRC for a “translation grant”, which is a special mechanism, similar to a platform grant, for the translation of the novel technology towards new applications in industry and wider academia. The grant was successfully awarded to start immediately after the completion of the original funding period, commencing in July 2009, for another four years.

Furthermore, nanomanipulation technology features in a number of further awarded grant applications, such as:

- Nanomanipulation for ion implantation processes (EPSRC - 3 years project in collaboration with Surrey University.

- Nanomechanical testing and tomography on nanoparticle-architectures (EPSRC – 3 years project in collaboration with Cranfield University, University of Bath, and Florida University).

- UKIERI – an exchange programme with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

- Nano4Med, a TSB funded 3-year project on medical applications of nanoparticle composites (lead by and in collaboration with 3 industrial partners, under the scientific lead of Sheffield Dentistry school).