Jaemi Lee Herzberger, a NASA Space Technology
Research Fellow, studies mechanical failures that occur in
electronics.
Image Credit: Jaemi Lee Herzberger
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NASA Space Technology Research Fellow, Jaemi Lee
Herzberger, assesses the creation of long, slender metal “dendrites” that are
embedded deep within capacitors, a condition that can lead to internal
electrical shorting of the electronic component.
Image Credit: Jaemi Lee Herzberger
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On the lookout for the physics of failure, Jaemi
Lee Herzberger, a PhD mechanical engineering student at the University of
Maryland and a Space Tech Research Fellow studies the degradation of small
ceramic multilayer capacitors.
Image Credit: Jaemi Lee Herzberger
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Hunting
Down the Physics of Failure
Satellite and ground-based electronics in NASA systems constantly face
unavoidable degradation over time due to environmental exposure and operational
use. But thanks to NASA’s Space Technology Research Grants Program, Jaemi Lee
Herzberger, a PhD mechanical engineering student at the University of Maryland,
is examining “physics of failure”–the technical term for the science-based
approach to reliability.
The NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) enable graduate
students to carry out research directly relevant to agency’s space technology
challenges, as described in NASA’s space technology roadmaps, while pursuing
degrees in related disciplines at their respective institutions.
Michael Gazarik, NASA’s associate administrator for space technology, said
the Agency’s NSTRF is a “natural on-ramp” for America’s graduate researcher
community to help bolster the country’s competitiveness in a knowledge-based,
global technology economy while enabling the space agency to achieve space
exploration goals.
Next-generation electronics
“I am looking at mechanical failures that occur in electronics,” Herzberger
said, “studying the degradation of small ceramic multilayer capacitors that will
govern the reliability of next-generation NASA electronics.”
Herzberger said that this class of capacitor is vulnerable to internal
electrical shorting because of the creation of long, slender metal “dendrites”
that are embedded deep within the capacitor. These pervasive dendrites are
threadlike and microscopic in size. The research challenge, she said, has been
to grow and scrutinize these embedded dendrites in a controllable manner to
better understand the fundamental physics of how and why they form.
“If we understand the mechanism behind their growth, then we can design and
build more robust capacitors that can prevent the dendrites from occurring,”
said Herzberger. “When I graduate, I hope to advance space technologies by
improving the robustness of the electronics on which electronic systems have to
rely.”
Lots of physics and chemistry
Herzberger’s early interest in humidity failures in systems was spurred by
her investigations at the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Life
Cycle Engineering (CALCE).
As a fellow in the NASA’s Space Technology Research Grants Program,
Herzberger has also benefited from working side-by-side with specialists at the
Parts Analysis Lab within Goddard Space Flight Center in neighboring Greenbelt,
Md.
For example, in linking up with Goddard’s Alexander Teverovsky–an expert in
such things as how capacitors can fail due to humidity–Herzberger has access to
knowledge and NASA research equipment that has afforded her a unique and
beneficial experience.
“There’s lots of physics and chemistry involved,” said Herzberger. “It can
get really complicated and we’ve found some major surprises.”
Making use of a powerful Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), she can zoom in
and observe how the metal dendrites have grown within pre-prepared,
cross-sectioned capacitors–a function of the amount of humidity, voltage, and
temperature they receive. Dendrite growth is also viewed by utilizing a
high-power optical microscope.
After the test is completed and the dendrite has caused a short-circuit,
Herzberger can place the capacitors in SEM and observe the dendrites at a high
magnification. Also, once in SEM, she can use Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy
that tells her which material has resulted in this dendrite morphology.
“I have so much fun filming them,” Herzberger said, compiling images via
computer to make movies of the dendrite growth. “I’ve got so much data. The goal
is to try and remove those failure mechanisms and improve the robustness of
these electronic parts to advance space technologies,” she said.
Comparing the susceptibilities
One application of Herzberger’s research is delving into future NASA use of
commercial-grade capacitors in space applications. Today, NASA approves only the
use of military-grade capacitors.
“Today, however, the most advanced, higher performance capacitors are built
as commercial-grade, so there may be a practical need for NASA to convert in the
future,” Herzberger said. “My research also focuses on comparing the
susceptibilities of these military-grade and commercial-grade capacitors to
low-voltage, moisture-related failures,” she
added.
The Challenge is On: NASA-WPI 2014 Robot Prize
Competition Registration Open
In pursuit of new technological solutions for America's space program and our
nation's future, NASA and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in
Worcester, Mass., have opened registration for the $1.5 million 2014 Sample
Return Robot prize competition.
Planned for June 2014 at WPI, industry and academic teams from across the nation will compete to demonstrate a robot can locate and retrieve geologic samples from wide and varied terrains without human controls. Teams that meet all competition requirements will be eligible to compete for the NASA-funded $1.5 million prize.
"The objective of the competition is to encourage innovations in automatic navigation and robotic manipulator technologies that NASA could incorporate into future missions," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington. "Innovations stemming from this challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore an asteroid or Mars, and advance robotic technology for use in industries and applications here on Earth."
NASA is providing the prize money to the winning team as part of the agency's Centennial Challenges competitions, which seek inventive solutions to problems of interest to the agency and the nation. While NASA provides the prize purse, the competitions are managed by nonprofit organizations that cover the cost of operations through commercial or private sponsorships. Prizes are awarded only after solutions are successfully demonstrated.
Earlier this year NASA awarded $5,000 to Team Survey of Los Angeles for successfully completing Level 1 of the 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge. NASA expects the 2014 event will advance the progress of the competition and include new, as well as returning, American competitors.
There have been 24 NASA Centennial Challenges competitions since 2005, with NASA awarding more than $6 million to 16 different winning teams. Competitors include private companies, student groups and independent inventors working outside the aerospace industry.
"We're honored and excited to once again host the Sample Return Robot Challenge," said Philip B. Ryan, interim president of WPI. "This year, 10,000 people turned out to watch the competition and to enjoy WPI's fantastic 'Touch Tomorrow Festival' of science, technology and robots. It's a pleasure to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in the wonders of this competition, this festival and this emerging field."
In addition to its academic programs, WPI's Robotics Resource Center supports robotics projects, teams, events and K-12 outreach programs. Each year, WPI manages at least seven competitive robotics tournaments. The university also has sponsored programs that foster the use of robots to solve important societal problems and encourage consideration of the societal implications of this new area of technology.
For more information, including how to register a team for the 2014 Sample Return Robot Challenge, visit:
The Centennial Challenges program is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:
Planned for June 2014 at WPI, industry and academic teams from across the nation will compete to demonstrate a robot can locate and retrieve geologic samples from wide and varied terrains without human controls. Teams that meet all competition requirements will be eligible to compete for the NASA-funded $1.5 million prize.
"The objective of the competition is to encourage innovations in automatic navigation and robotic manipulator technologies that NASA could incorporate into future missions," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington. "Innovations stemming from this challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore an asteroid or Mars, and advance robotic technology for use in industries and applications here on Earth."
NASA is providing the prize money to the winning team as part of the agency's Centennial Challenges competitions, which seek inventive solutions to problems of interest to the agency and the nation. While NASA provides the prize purse, the competitions are managed by nonprofit organizations that cover the cost of operations through commercial or private sponsorships. Prizes are awarded only after solutions are successfully demonstrated.
Earlier this year NASA awarded $5,000 to Team Survey of Los Angeles for successfully completing Level 1 of the 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge. NASA expects the 2014 event will advance the progress of the competition and include new, as well as returning, American competitors.
There have been 24 NASA Centennial Challenges competitions since 2005, with NASA awarding more than $6 million to 16 different winning teams. Competitors include private companies, student groups and independent inventors working outside the aerospace industry.
"We're honored and excited to once again host the Sample Return Robot Challenge," said Philip B. Ryan, interim president of WPI. "This year, 10,000 people turned out to watch the competition and to enjoy WPI's fantastic 'Touch Tomorrow Festival' of science, technology and robots. It's a pleasure to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in the wonders of this competition, this festival and this emerging field."
In addition to its academic programs, WPI's Robotics Resource Center supports robotics projects, teams, events and K-12 outreach programs. Each year, WPI manages at least seven competitive robotics tournaments. The university also has sponsored programs that foster the use of robots to solve important societal problems and encourage consideration of the societal implications of this new area of technology.
For more information, including how to register a team for the 2014 Sample Return Robot Challenge, visit:
The Centennial Challenges program is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
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