Dr. Siyuan He

Imagine making a device so small that you can’t see it in the palm of your own hand. That’s what Siyuan He does in fabricating and testing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). His devices typically range in size from a few to about a hundred micrometres – the diameter of a single hair – while integrating electrical, mechanical, optical and fluid engineering systems.

Within that tiny scale lie vast possibilities. For example, MEMS technology in vehicle air bag systems has made it possible to shrink the components from about the size of a hockey puck to a fingernail and cut the cost from hundreds to a few dollars each. Additional applications include biochips to detect hazardous agents, blood pressure monitoring, motion sensors in smartphones and many others.

He is most excited by his work in autonomous vehicles. “Combining MEMS with LIDAR –light detection and ranging – makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of navigation systems while recognizing objects more clearly and accurately. Both safety and quality are much higher.” With MEMS now joining forces with nanosystems (NEMS), the future is infinitesimally thrilling.