Florida A&M University

The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Tarik J Dickens

Okenwa I Okoli

Phong Tran

Sean Psulkowski

Ben Wang

Jin Yan

M Jasim Uddin

Kunal Joshi

Jolie Breaux Frketic

Madhuparna Roy

Phong Tran Hoang

Charissa Lucien

Mingchia Dawn Yang

A device and related methods for determining adhesion dynamics of the rapid deposition of a filament is disclosed herein. The device includes a stage having a top surface. An aperture residing within the top surface of the stage is disposed within a first plane. A thermally transparent film is stretched across the aperture and secured under tension. The thermally transparent film resides within a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is configured to facilitate the transmission of infrared waves through the transparent film. A thermal camera is disposed in underlying relation to the thermally transparent film and is configured to collect a thermal signature of the filament being extruded by a nozzle. A digital microscope is disposed in an orthogonal relationship with the print path. The digital microscope is configured to capture video data during the extrusion of the filament being deposited on the stage.

System and method of optimizing adhesion dynamics during deposition of thermoplastic materials

Various embodiments are directed to a testbed platform for characterizing materials and inks utilized in additive manufacturing of nanocomposites. The system may include a testbed base coupled to a group of electromagnets. The base may include an aperture for housing a microscope slide and an interchangeable channel including a microfluidic flow cell of various geometric angles. The system may further include a group of needle tips in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flow cell. The needle tips may be coupled, via lock connectors, to syringes that dispense magnetic inks utilized in additive manufacturing into the microfluidic flow cell. The system may also include an inverted microscope lens and a high-speed camera in optical communication with the base. The camera may be utilized to capture images of a flow behavior of the magnetic inks for performing an analysis that determines a nozzle design for microdispensing during an additive manufacturing process.

Testbed platform for characterization of materials and inks used in additive manufacturing of nanocomposites

Embodiments of the present invention include a collaborative manufacturing system utilizing a plurality of mobile agents. The mobile agents operate dual robotic arms to improve single and multi-material builds' efficiency. In some embodiments, the dual robotic arms work together in the same area to create multi-functional components. In addition, the mobile agents can change tool heads on the arms to allow for hybrid manufacturing such as pick and place, additive, and subtractive manufacturing. One or more mobile agents interact with other mobile agents, thereby increasing the end product's efficiency and quality. Mobile agents utilize swarm manufacturing techniques to improve the manufactured product's time efficiency further and use machine learning to adjust and re-assign mobile agents constantly.

Machine learning based reconfigurable mobile agents using swarm system manufacturing

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for detecting or sensing damage within a target material, as well as related devices. In some embodiments, a damage sensing system including a target material, an optical fiber embedded into the target material, where the optical fiber has an outer surface running the length of the optical fiber, a photosensitive receiver, and a triboluminescent coating coated on the optical fiber.

Multiple-wavelength triboluminescent optical fiber sensor

Methods of forming multimaterial fibers via a thermal drawing process used to produce fibers with controlled compositions and alignments. The multimaterial fibers are usable as feedstock for additive manufacturing printing, as well as other applications that require elongated fibers with improved physical characteristics. The multimaterial fibers are formed from a mixture of low dimensional materials (LDM's), such as metal nanoparticles, and thermoplastic matrices. During fabrication of the fibers, a composite of LDM's and thermoplastics is heated and experiences a pulling force on one end in a direction away from an opposing end, thereby drawing the composite into an elongated fiber. The fiber includes a set of physical properties determined by the LDM's, and is usable as a filament across various applications.

Method of fabricating multimaterial fibers from low dimensional materials

A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a working electrode which includes a plurality of twisted carbon nanotube yarns. The dye-sensitized solar cell also includes a hybrid sensitizer. The hybrid sensitizer includes a nanoporous titanium oxide layer coated on the plurality of twisted carbon nanotube yarns, a microporous titanium oxide layer coated onto the nanoporous titanium oxide layer, and dye particles and quantum dots disposed in the pores of the microporous titanium oxide layer. In addition, the dye-sensitized solar cell includes a conducting electrode which includes at least one carbon nanotube yarn disposed about the hybrid sensitizer. The dye-sensitized solar cell also includes a solid state electrolyte disposed about the hybrid sensitizer.

Dye-sensitized solar cells including carbon nanotube yarns

Embodiments can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring the structural health of one or more structures and associated materials. For example, a structural health monitoring system can be provided. The system can include a structure to be monitored, the structure including a material with multiple triboluminescent sensors and multiple nano-optoelectronic members; and an analyzer in signal communication with the nano-optoelectronic members.

Growing community of inventors

Tallahassee, FL, United States of America

Tarik J Dickens