Development of 3-D Printed Molecular Electronic Transducer Seismometers

Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

3-D printed seismometers are being developed as a new technology for planetary seismology. These sensors have distinct advantages over other seismometer designs, including high shock tolerance, arbitrary installation angle, and excellent ability to survive in challenging environmental conditions, while maintaining high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. We propose a new 3D printing technique to improve and advance the fabrication process. We plan to characterize 3D printing process parameters first, fabricate a few prototype sensors, and use the experiment setup developed earlier for performance evaluation. If successful, the developed technology will reduce the design and production cycle and can also be used as a platform for other geometrically extreme devices. We also plan to work with other NASA technologists to evaluate among different 3D printing mechanisms and equipment options, which will result in a greater capability and capacity for future NASA technology development programs to use this equipment.

Benefits

The program is to investigate a 3-D printing technique to advance the fabrication of electrode detectors for molecular electronic transducer (MET) seismometers. Our current MET seismometer systems have demonstrated 50 ng sensitivity at 1 Hz, which is 500 times better than most lunar application requirements, but discrepancies are found among different sensing elements fabricated using conventional microfabrication technologies. Success in this project benefits the following: 1) provide a next generation approach to fabricate electrode detectors, 2) potentially increase of the yields and repeatability of fabricated units, 3) significantly reduce the length of the production cycle, and 4) allow an easier prototyping process to mature design.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Environment Sensors
Program	Center Innovation Fund: GSFC CIF (GSFC CIF)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Meng-ping Chang — meng-ping.chang@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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