Technological progress and the manufacturing industry are undeniably linked to one another. Without the manufacturing industry, technological advancement wouldn't be possible, and without progress in technology, production industry output would amount to a lot less. With that in mind, the latest breakthroughs in applied science are as exciting for the manufacturing industry as they are for high-tech innovators.
Technological progress is inevitable, particularly in the electronics industry. Computers evolve on an almost continuous basis, for example. Once upon a time, 3.5-inch floppy disks were considered cutting edge; these days, high-capacity data storage devices and Blu-ray discs are commonplace. Google's latest technological conception, known as Google Glass, is a wearable computer. With its optical head-mounted display (OHMD), the device effectively merges the digital universe with the tangible world.
If 2013's car shows are on the money, driverless cars won't be far behind. Several leading automobile companies, including Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Nissan, plan to introduce driverless cars by 2020. Some industry experts predict that by 2035, most of the cars on America's roads will be autonomous. The vehicular equivalent of the space race is officially on—and the manufacturing industry is a key player.
In January 2014, President Obama announced his plans to move forward with a public-private manufacturing innovation institute at the North Carolina State University. The facility, known as the Next Generation Power Electronics Innovation Institute, will focus on advanced semiconductor technology, which will then be implemented in an array of small electronic devices as well as larger projects.
When the silicon chip was invented in the middle of the twentieth century, it revolutionized the electronics world. All of a sudden, computers shrunk from the size of a room to the size of a small box. Silicon Valley emerged and consumers all over the world gained access to a bevy of brand new gadgets. As transistor capacities increased, devices got smaller and progressively more powerful.
The very latest semiconductor technology will change that compelling ratio once again—in a similarly profound manner. Wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors represent a gigantic leap forward for applied science: they remain operational at twice the maximum temperature of silicon chips. WBG semiconductors can also handle ten times as much voltage as—and ten times higher frequencies than—traditional silicon chips.
WBG semiconductors—which are made of materials like silicon carbide, zinc oxide, and gallium nitride—are expected to cut overall energy use by 20 percent and reduce energy waste by as much as 90 percent. Gallium-nitride-based violet laser diodes are already on the market and are present in Blu-ray players.
In the future, WBG semiconductors are likely to change the face of the planet for the better. If that seems a bold statement, consider this: the Next Generation Power Electronics Innovation Institute already has a plan for the national grid. If WBG semiconductors are used, a large 8,000 lb. substation could be reduced to a comparatively tiny 100 lb. component. As a result of design changes based on WBG semiconductors, large areas of the US would benefit from DC power instead of AC power. In turn, common household appliance and other electronic devices would no longer need to convert AC into DC power.
What would be the result of an overhaul like the one suggested above? For a start, it would mean cheaper energy and a more reliable power grid. As a direct consequence of WBG semiconductor implementation, America's carbon dioxide emissions could potentially decrease by a staggering fourteen billion tons a year by 2030. That's planet-saving potential.
This type of technological advancement ultimately equates to manufacturing industry growth. After all, if Google X plans to unleash the Glass onto an eager consumer base, it'll need to set up a stellar mass-production contract. Naturally, that type of component production contracts is the equivalent of a gold mine for any electronics manufacturer. Similar opportunities will become available—en masse—when WBG semiconductors make their full-scale debut. In short, get ready for a brand-new manufacturing industry.
(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)
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