Integrated Microsystems

It is predicted that over the next five years, chemical, optical, fluidic, biological, and mechanical components are will be able to be integrated with computational logic in designing the commercial chip. Measurement and instrumentation technologies are expected to be some of the most significant areas for short-term advancements with enabling effects. Biotechnology research and production, sensors and various chemical synthesis capabilities are all expected to be significantly improved by these emerging advances by 2015. Entire systems like satellites and automated laboratory processing equipment for example, may have integrated components at a microscale and will be built at a portion of the cost of existing macroscale systems. This will revolutionize sensing and processing information for a range of civilian and/or military applications. Advances could also permit proliferation of presently controlled processing capabilities (IE, separation of the nuclear isotope).

One factor that contributes to its success is the significant cost savings the technology delivers which makes it worth the investment. Microscale components are cheaper and surprisingly more durable than current technologies. With R&D budgets strained, it makes sense to investigate the viability of the technology.

Logistical considerations are expected to drive manufacturing and production of integrated microscale systems. The ability to design and engineer more capabilities in specific chip technology provides architects more space to integrate more technology. This allows more options for emerging microscale amalgamation.

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