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Nano- and Microscale Systems, Devices, and Structures
Published in Sergey Edward Lyshevski, Nano- and Micro-Electromechanical Systems, 2018
For nano- and microscale systems and devices, the designer must study the taxonomy of devising (synthesis), which is relevant to cognitive study, classification, and synthesis of any systems. Devising of nano- and microsystems is an evolutionary process of discovering and examining evolving architectures (topologies) utilizing basic physical laws and studying possible systems evolutions based on synergetic integration of nanoscale structures and subsystems in the unified functional core. The ability to devise and optimize nano- and microsystems to a large extent depends on the basic physical principles comprehended and applied. Design, analysis, and optimization tasks can be performed only as a coherent functional nano- and microsystem is devised (synthesized). High-level hierarchy and abstraction, computational efficiency, adaptability, functionality, integrity, compliance, robustness, flexibility, prototype capability, clarity, interactivity, decision-making capacity, and intelligence of the CAD design meaningfully complement design, analysis, and optimization. It is likely that the synthesis taxonomy, fundamental physical laws, and applied experimental results in conjunction with coherent CAD will allow one to devise, prototype, design, model, analyze, and optimize nanosystems. The synergetic quantitative synthesis and symbolic descriptions can be efficiently used in searching and evaluating possible organizations, architectures, configurations, topologies, geometries, and other descriptive features providing the evolutionary features. Specifically, biosystems provide a proof-of-concept principle for highly integrated multifunctional organic, inorganic, and hybrid nano- and microsystems. The engineering biomimetics paradigm provides a meaningful conceptual tool to understand how biological and man-made systems coherently perform their functions, tasks, roles, and missions. One may cognitively examine micro-biosystems with the coherent synthesis of microsystems, and then concentrate on design, analysis, and optimization. The E. coli bacterium (1 μm diameter, 2 μm length, and 1 pg weight), shown in Figure 2.11, has a plasma membrane, cell wall, and capsule that contains the cytoplasm and nucleoid.2 From all viewpoints (locomotion, sensing, actuation, decision-making, and others), this bacterium achieves remarkable levels of efficiency, survivability, adaptation, and robustness. For example, the control and propulsion exhibited by this simple bacterium have not been achieved in any man-made nano-, micro-, mini-, or conventional underwater vehicles including most advanced torpedoes and submarines. Advanced conventional torpedoes (not considering the supercavitating rocket-propelled Shkval torpedo) achieve a maximum speed of 20 m/sec, and speed is a function of the vehicle length. The bacterium is propelled with a maximum speed of 20 μm/sec. That is, the speed–length ratio is 10. Only the most advanced torpedoes can maintain this ratio for a short time. Other examples reported in Figure 2.11 describe ants and butterflies. Micro air vehicles cannot achieve the agility, controllability, and maneuverability exhibited by butterflies.
Intellectual property and national security: the case of the hardcastle superheater, 1905–1927
Published in History and Technology, 2018
The reason why the Admiralty so readily abandoned the Armstrong superheater – and was so determined to preserve the secrecy of Hardcastle’s invention – was that it regarded the Hardcastle superheater as possessing very important tactical and even strategic implications. These fell into two categories: one concerning improvements in the torpedo’s absolute performance as a weapons system, and the other concerning improvements in its performance relative to naval artillery. In both respects, Hardcastle’s invention was a quantum leap. In absolute terms, it enabled short-range settings on new torpedoes that were roughly twice as fast and three times longer than the Navy’s last pre-Hardcastle torpedoes; and it enabled long-range settings that were five times longer.39 Perhaps more importantly, in relative terms, it extended the effective range of the torpedo at least to, and arguably beyond, the effective range of guns. Although statements about effective range are hazardous, it can be confidently asserted that, whereas the effective range of 18-inch torpedoes at 30 knots in the early 1890s had been well under 1,000 yards, and while a series of improvements by 1906 or so had increased their effective range to roughly 4,000 yards, the Hardcastle superheater, when placed in the larger 21-inch torpedoes that began to be developed in the first decade of the 20th century, took the effective range at 30 knots to 10,000 yards.