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The FY 2002 Budget Request for the Electrical and
Communications Systems Subactivity is $57.09 million, an increase
of $3.12 million, or 5.8 percent, over the FY 2001 Current Plan
of $53.97 million.
(Millions of Dollars)
|
FY 2000 Actual |
FY 2001
Current Plan |
FY 2002 Request |
Change |
Amount |
Percent |
Electrical and Communications Systems |
45.28
|
53.97
|
57.09
|
3.12
|
5.8%
|
The Electrical and Communications Systems
(ECS) Subactivity addresses the fundamental research issues underlying
both the device technologies and the engineering systems principles
of complex systems and applications. It also seeks to ensure the
education of a diverse workforce prepared to support the continued
rapid development of these technologies as drivers of the global
economy. The research and education supported by ECS are fundamental
to developing synergy between micro/nanotechnology, biotechnology,
and information technology in support of the emerging new industries
and economy of the 21st century.
The study of microelectronic, nanoelectronic, micromagnetic,
photonic, and micro-electromechanical devices (approximately $10.0
million) and their integration into circuits and microsystems is
rapidly expanding in technical scope and applications. New generations
of integrated microsystems incorporate microchip technology with
mechanical, biological, chemical and optical sensors, actuators,
and signal processing devices to achieve new functionality. Modern
computing and communications systems are based on these devices.
Trends toward smaller devices raise new research challenges to fabricate
molecular-based nanoscale structures and to understand the quantum
principles, which dominate their behavior.
Research on the design and analysis of systems and
the convergence of control, communications, and computation (approximately
$7.0 million) forms the basis for new research directions in intelligent
engineering systems. These systems, which learn new functions and
adapt to changing environments, are especially important for advanced
applications. Approximately $5.0 million supports the integration
of device research and systems principles which has broad applications
in telecommunications, wireless networks, power and energy, environment,
transportation, biomedicine, manufacturing, and other areas.
ECS also provides support for specialized resources
and infrastructure that facilitate research and educational activities,
such as the National Nanofabrication Users' Network (NNUN) and the
Science and Technology Center on Nanobiotechnology at Cornell University.
ECS also actively participates in the development and management
of cross-disciplinary programs including industry-related and graduate
traineeship programs and research centers.
Recent achievements of ECS grantees include the development
and manipulation of nanotubes, magnetic structures using nanotechnology,
enhanced coherent soft X-ray generation using shaped pulses, magnetoelastic
remote query environmental sensors, two-dimensional photonic bandgap
laser and waveguides, nanomems structures for high sensitivity,
high frequency measurements, micromachined needles for drug delivery,
and to bioseparation sieves to filter viruses.
Innovative advances in new types of sensors, actuators,
nonlinear feedback, neural networks, and computer-aided systems
engineering design tools are enabling major development of intelligent
control systems. The developments in Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
(MEMS) technology have created new challenges for distributed sensing
and control. ECS grantees are developing a retinal prosthetic chip;
MEMS based power generation for portable systems, and integration
of ultrasonics and MEMS devices for acoustic imaging.
In FY 2002, ECS will maintain support for the Information
Technology Research priority area at a level of $2.68 million, unchanged
from FY 2001. This support will emphasize research on developing
high-end computing tools to accelerate the design of next generation
IT manufacturing techniques in areas such as photonic crystals and
sensors and detectors.
An increase of $3.12 million will support the Nanobiotechnology
Science and Technology Center at Cornell University. Reallocation
within the base will provide support for increased activity and
future potential applications in the following areas:
Nanoscale Science and Engineering research increases
$3.34 million for a total of $20.14 million and focuses support
on fundamental principles of electronic and photonic devices,
manipulation of nanostructures, and modeling and simulation of
new device architectures and systems. Smaller and faster devices
based on nanoscale science and engineering will create opportunities
for new electronics, biotechnology, and information and communications
systems. Investments are also planned for a Nanotechnology Experimentation
and Testing Facility (NEXT) to address issues regarding the development
of new instrumentation for nanoscale research, characterization
and prototyping of devices;
Research in Optical and Wireless Communications
and networking devices and systems increases $1.0 million for
a total of $5.0 million, and will be emphasized through special
inter-directorate and interagency program initiatives. The research
will emphasize domain specific applications in the areas of biomedicine,
environment, transportation, telemedicine and crisis management;
Research on Sensor, Imaging, and Power and Energy
Systems and Networks; Computational Engineering, and Domain Specific
Computing will increase $500,000 for a total support of $4.0 million;
and
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