US plastic electronics trade body FlexTech has received a mandate to distribute $3.5 million (€2.6 million) to companies to develop flexible and printed electronics in 2014. The funds have since been allocated to a number of flexible electronics development projects, in partnership with the US military.
The money is being provided by the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL). In late 2013, FlexTech announced that military support had also been secured for two separate development projects, involving member companies American Semiconductor and Soligie.
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Minnesota-based Soligie will design and make scatterable media cards with 30 seconds of audio recording, to be mounted on flyers distributed by US forces during information campaigns targeting foreign civilians and enemy combatants. The digital flyers will be based around an existing integrated circuit made by American Semiconductor and will need to be robust enough to withstand the stresses of printing and airborne distribution.
The US Special Operations Command (Socom) is providing roughly half the $527,000 (€386,000) budget for the project which will be delivering prototypes by the middle of 2014.
Minnesota-based Soligie will design and make scatterable media cards with 30 seconds of audio recording, to be mounted on flyers distributed by US forces during information campaigns targeting foreign civilians and enemy combatants. The digital flyers will be based around an existing integrated circuit made by American Semiconductor and will need to be robust enough to withstand the stresses of printing and airborne distribution.
The US Special Operations Command (Socom) is providing roughly half the $527,000 (€386,000) budget for the project which will be delivering prototypes by the middle of 2014.
Customisable biosensor
The second project will see Soligie leading a coalition of companies to develop a lightweight integrated biosensor platform using plastic electronics technology. The customisable sensor package will utilise wearable plastic electronics components for vital sign, structural health and environmental monitoring, as well as point-of-care diagnostics. This will have immediate applications for soldiers in a warzone, and could have a wider role in wearable electronics markets.
The second project will see Soligie leading a coalition of companies to develop a lightweight integrated biosensor platform using plastic electronics technology. The customisable sensor package will utilise wearable plastic electronics components for vital sign, structural health and environmental monitoring, as well as point-of-care diagnostics. This will have immediate applications for soldiers in a warzone, and could have a wider role in wearable electronics markets.
The platform will be composed of a power source, a microcontroller, a display and a wireless communications channel. American Semiconductor will also provide the printed electronics for this $335,000 (€245,000) project, with the flexible batteries coming from Imprint Energy and Boeing supplying test services. The ARL is providing 45% of the funding.
John Heitzinger, president of Soligie, said: 'We look forward to delivering these novel devices and, with our ecosystem partners, demonstrating the value of printed and flexible electronics. Support of these projects by the FlexTech Alliance, ARL and Socom is vital to the development and commercialisation of printed electronics technologies, enabling companies in the space to focus efforts on meaningful prototypes.'
Primary applications
For the 2014 programme, the ARL has identified four key applications it is looking support:
For the 2014 programme, the ARL has identified four key applications it is looking support:
- The ARL wants to see work developing a means to process plastic electronics and circuits on to surfaces in 3D
- Production of portable power solutions, like batteries and chargers, for use by soldiers
- The ARL is also keen to see the development of a method for integrating hybrid silicon CMOS components with sensors
- Any other product - such as thin-film batteries, sensors, display screens, solid-state lighting, superconductors or photovoltaics - that can have military applications.
- Production of portable power solutions, like batteries and chargers, for use by soldiers
- The ARL is also keen to see the development of a method for integrating hybrid silicon CMOS components with sensors
- Any other product - such as thin-film batteries, sensors, display screens, solid-state lighting, superconductors or photovoltaics - that can have military applications.
Access to the funding will be controlled by FlexTech via its Request for Proposalsprogramme. Industry will be expected to share the cost for any development work with the ARL.
The US military has been quick to embrace printed electronics, but much of the technology could very easily be translated to commercial applications in the flexible electronics market. The contracts FlexTech's members have secured highlight the public sector backing in accelerating this development.
In welcoming the opportunities federal funding will give the industry in 2014, FlexTech CEO Michael Ciesinski says: 'FlexTech is excited to embark on a programme with the ARL; tool development, novel power sources and sensors, and integrated demonstrators provide a rich opportunity for companies to consider and propose innovative projects.'
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