Experimental impulse radio IEEE 802.15.4a UWB based wireless sensor localization technology: Characterization, reliability and ranging

Ultra Wide Band (UWB) transmission has recently been the object of considerable attention in the field of next generation location aware wireless sensor networks. This is due to its fine time resolution, energy efficient and robustness to interference in harsh environments. This paper presents a thorough applied examination of prototype IEEE 802.15.4a impulse UWB transceiver technology to quantify the effect of line of sight (LOS) and non line of sight (NLOS) ranging in real indoor and outdoor environments. Results included draw on an extensive array of experiments that fully characterize the 802.15.4a UWB transceiver technology, its reliability and ranging capabilities for the first time. A new two way (TW) ranging protocol is proposed. The goal of this work is to validate the technology as a dependable wireless communications mechanism for the subset of sensor network localization applications where reliability and precision positions are key concerns.

Innovation in Ireland's 'high-technology' businesses: the roles of interaction and proximity

This thesis explores the drivers of innovation in Irish high-technology businesses and estimates, in particular, the relative importance of interaction with external businesses and other organisations as a source of knowledge for innovation at the business-level. The thesis also examines the extent to which interaction for innovation in these businesses occurs on a local or regional basis. The study uses original survey data of 184 businesses in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical, Information and Communications Technology and Engineering and Electronic Devices sectors. The study considers both product and process innovation at the level of the business and develops new measures of innovation output. For the first time in an Irish study, the incidence and frequency of interaction is measured for each of a range of agents, other group companies, suppliers, customers, competitors, academic-based researchers and innovation-supporting agencies. The geographic proximity between the business and each of the most important of each of each category of agent is measured using average one-way driving distance, which is the first time such a measure has been used in an Irish study of innovation. Utilising econometric estimation techniques, it is found that interaction with customers, suppliers and innovation-supporting agencies is positively associated with innovation in Irish high-technology businesses. Surprisingly, however, interaction with academic-based researchers is found to have a negative effect on innovation output at the business-level. While interaction generally emerges as a positive influence on business innovation, there is little evidence that this occurs at a local or regional level. Furthermore, there is little support for the presence of localisation economies for high-technology sectors, though some tentative evidence of urbanisation economies. This has important implications for Irish regional, enterprise and innovation policy, which has emphasised the development of clusters of internationally competitive businesses. The thesis brings into question the suitability of a cluster-driven network based approach to business development and competitiveness in an Irish context.

Development of low-cost sensing and separation devices based on macro, micro and nano technology for health applications

The work presented in this thesis described the development of low-cost sensing and separation devices with electrochemical detections for health applications. This research employs macro, micro and nano technology. The first sensing device developed was a tonerbased micro-device. The initial development of microfluidic devices was based on glass or quartz devices that are often expensive to fabricate; however, the introduction of new types of materials, such as plastics, offered a new way for fast prototyping and the development of disposable devices. One such microfluidic device is based on the lamination of laser-printed polyester films using a computer, printer and laminator. The resulting toner-based microchips demonstrated a potential viability for chemical assays, coupled with several detection methods, particularly Chip-Electrophoresis-Chemiluminescence (CE-CL) detection which has never been reported in the literature. Following on from the toner-based microchip, a three-electrode micro-configuration was developed on acetate substrate. This is the first time that a micro-electrode configuration made from gold; silver and platinum have been fabricated onto acetate by means of patterning and deposition techniques using the central fabrication facilities in Tyndall National Institute. These electrodes have been designed to facilitate the integration of a 3- electrode configuration as part of the fabrication process. Since the electrodes are on acetate the dicing step can automatically be eliminated. The stability of these sensors has been investigated using electrochemical techniques with excellent outcomes. Following on from the generalised testing of the electrodes these sensors were then coupled with capillary electrophoresis. The final sensing devices were on a macro scale and involved the modifications of screenprinted electrodes. Screen-printed electrodes (SPE) are generally seen to be far less sensitive than the more expensive electrodes including the gold, boron-doped diamond and glassy carbon electrodes. To enhance the sensitivity of these electrodes they were treated with metal nano-particles, gold and palladium. Following on from this, another modification was introduced. The carbonaceous material carbon monolith was drop-cast onto the SPE and then the metal nano-particles were electrodeposited onto the monolith material

Development and optimisation of photonic crystal based nanosensors

This thesis involved the development of two Biosensors and their associated assays for the detection of diseases, namely IBR and BVD for veterinary use and C1q protein as a biomarker to pancreatic cancer for medical application, using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and nanoplasmonics. SPR techniques have been used by a number of groups, both in research [1-3] and commercially [4, 5] , as a diagnostic tool for the detection of various biomolecules, especially antibodies [6-8]. The biosensor market is an ever expanding field, with new technology and new companies rapidly emerging on the market, for both human [8] and veterinary applications [9, 10]. In Chapter 2, we discuss the development of a simultaneous IBR and BVD virus assay for the detection of antibodies in bovine serum on an SPR-2 platform. Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal cancer by organ site, partially due to the lack of a reliable molecular signature for diagnostic testing. C1q protein has been recently proposed as a biomarker within a panel for the detection of pancreatic cancer. The third chapter discusses the fabrication, assays and characterisation of nanoplasmonic arrays. We will talk about developing C1q scFv antibody assays, clone screening of the antibodies and subsequently moving the assays onto the nanoplasmonic array platform for static assays, as well as a custom hybrid benchtop system as a diagnostic method for the detection of pancreatic cancer. Finally, in chapter 4, we move on to Guided Mode Resonance (GMR) sensors, as a low-cost option for potential use in Point-of Care diagnostics. C1q and BVD assays used in the prior formats are transferred to this platform, to ascertain its usability as a cost effective, reliable sensor for diagnostic testing. We discuss the fabrication, characterisation and assay development, as well as their use in the benchtop hybrid system.