Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have a wide range of applications in the semiconductor, bio, and environmental sectors, and are revolutionizing healthcare and biotechnology in particular. This technology is making a big difference in a small world, and will play an important role in more sophisticated diagnostics and treatments, environmental monitoring, and more in the future.
MEMS, small machines that make small worlds
When we look at the development of modern science and technology, there are two opposing currents. One is hyper-scale, the tendency to maximize energy and create ever larger structures or systems. For example, super-sized buildings, ships, airplanes, trains, etc. are rapidly developing along with economic exchanges between countries around the world, and this development can be easily observed in our daily lives. The development of megastructures has been driven by the human desire to utilize limited space more efficiently, which has led to the rise of sky-high skyscrapers in big cities like New York, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
Another trend is miniaturization, a technological revolution in the invisibly small world that attempts to pack more information into smaller spaces and get things done through ever-smaller mechanical devices, such as in the semiconductor industry or nanotechnology. This miniaturization is playing an important role in the invisible world as well, and its applications are gaining traction in a variety of fields.
For example, in the movie Island, there’s a scene where a bunch of tiny robots emerge from a pill the protagonist takes to explore and gather information inside his body. While this may seem like something out of science fiction, modern science is already on the verge of making this imagination a reality. In 2007, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the U.S. Department of Defense, announced a project called HI-MEMS. HI-MEMS stands for Hybrid Insect Micro-Electromechanical Systems, a project to combine insects and micro-mechanical devices to create cyborg insects that can be controlled by humans. It was a revolutionary attempt to turn insects into tiny cyborgs that can be controlled by inserting tiny electronic chips into them.
The key technology used in this project is Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS). MEMS are microelectromechanical systems, which are electromechanical devices so small that they are invisible to our eyes. This technology is also closely related to Korea’s semiconductor technology, which mainly focuses on handling tiny electrical signals. If semiconductor technology is a technology that processes small electrical signals, MEMS is a technology that converts those signals into a form that can be practically utilized by humans.
Principles and applications of MEMS
MEMS technology processes electronic signals in a very small world and converts those signals into physical motion. For example, oscilloscopes, which are used to measure electrical signals in the lab, utilize MEMS technology to help us see tiny electrical signals visually. The MEMS devices embedded in the oscilloscope amplify the tiny signals so that the experimenter can see the results.
This type of MEMS technology is also gaining traction in the bio, or life, technology space. Called Bio-MEMS, this technology is used to manipulate microscopic units of life, such as cells or DNA. For example, MEMS can be used to store vast amounts of DNA information on a single chip, or to analyze tiny amounts of biomaterial in the lab. The medical field also has endless possibilities for MEMS. The idea of tiny medical machines traveling inside the human body to diagnose or treat diseases is no longer the stuff of science fiction movies. MEMS technology will enable doctors to perform more precise and effective diagnoses and treatments.
MEMS and our future
MEMS technology has applications in a variety of fields, including life sciences, semiconductors, and nanotechnology, and the possibilities continue to expand. Combined with biotechnology, MEMS technology has great potential, especially in the medical field. In the future, tiny robots will be able to roam freely through blood vessels, enabling new ways of treatment and diagnosis that traditional diagnostic equipment cannot.
MEMS also has applications in environmental technology. Tiny sensors can be used to detect air or water pollution and collect data in real time to better diagnose and respond to environmental issues. These technologies will be utilized in factories, cities, and even homes, contributing to environmental protection and energy conservation.
In conclusion, MEMS is positioning itself as a key technology that is making a big difference in a small world. From the electronic devices we use every day, to medical, life sciences, and environmental technologies, MEMS are becoming increasingly important. As MEMS technology advances, our lives will become even more innovative and convenient.
