On the Leading Edge: MSEC 2022 Showcases MEMS and Sensors Innovations
by Petri Santala, Okmetic
The 2022 MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress provided an excellent business development and networking experience. Eight strong sessions covered important topics to the sector’s continued success including, the aging of our workforces, geopolitical issues, sustainability, supply chain, business cases, and the latest in health, wellness, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. 
The sheer number of products that have benefitted from MEMS and advanced sensors becomes apparent at an event like MSEC. For example, a presentation from Google on their Large-Scale Optical Switching for Data Centers have led to a 30% reduction in CAPEX and 40% reduction in power consumption and provides much needed flexibility in the constantly evolving environment. TDK and Nio Labs both presented the advantages of precision agriculture based on sensors on vehicles, in the dirt, or measuring humidity.
Bosch Sensortech highlighted how MEMS have saved lives over the years: airbags employ accelerometers; gyroscopes provide electronic stability control and turn off dangerous tools when dropped; pressure sensors in tires save lives and maintenance costs; gas sensors improve air quality and save energy; and many more examples. The automobile sector will continue to propel technology development especially with autonomous driving and more intelligent transportation overall.
Rogue Valley Microdevices noted that total biosensor revenue has doubled since 2019 and will continue to lead the way in new applications even with the business challenges to commercialization including adoption hurdles with the regulatory and insurance systems, bio-incompatibilities, a non-existent testing regimens and packaging and shelf-life issues. Also in the healthcare area, Canary Medical shared their Smart Knee product which sense gait changes and predicts damage and recommends proactive treatment to prevent additional damage and additional surgeries.
Foundational MEMS devices like gyroscopes continue to evolve and make tremendous impact on electronics products. For example, Analog Devices presented on their highest performing inertial sensors with significant gains in bandwidth, power, stability and noise, and their journey to reach a 50x performance improvement over the last 15 years.
Demanding customers set a high bar for positioning, navigation and timing solutions. Ron Polcawich, program manager at the Army Research Laboratory challenged the industry to create products by 2030 which enable non-GPS precision to within less than one meter error and in less than one nanosecond, over all terrains and in very demanding conditions. Meeting this challenge will involve material choices, integration of quantum- or photonic-based approaches, and integrated calibration and compensation approaches.
Always a highlight and possibly the best reason to attend, MSEC 2022 provided many opportunities to reconnect across global boundaries, get new perspectives on technology initiatives and share impressions on the new growth sectors of the industry.
On a personal note, I was thrilled to be entered into the MSIG Industry Hall of Fame, alongside Steve Whalley. The Hall of Fame contains several industry heavyweights and to be considered in their presence is truly an honor. My thanks to SEMI MSIG for the recognition.
