This research area covers the development, optimisation and integration of devices that detect and measure changes in temperature, pressure, vibration and light, for example.
Sensors and Instrumentation research area encompasses the development and optimisation of new or existing devices that detect and measure changes in temperature, pressure, vibration and light. It also includes the integration and optimisation of these devices into a new system or instrument.
Design and integration of new instrumentation to enhance knowledge of processes, environments or materials using new or existing technology is also part of this research area. Research can either be generic or underpin a particular application.
Novel research in sensors and instrumentation plays a pivotal role in enabling progress on a range of EPSRC challenges, such as robotics, the internet of things, big data and smart manufacturing. We will take action to support networking across the community that links underpinning research with key application areas.
We will continue to support research that has potential to underpin EPSRC priorities. Examples include:
- deployment of new instruments in extreme environments
- remote and distributed sensing systems
- fabrication of new advanced devices.
Due to the UK’s strong industrial base in this area, the sensors and instrumentation community will benefit from aligning closely, and collaborating with, Innovate UK investment.
Sensors and Instrumentation research underpins developments across all research council remits, for example environmental monitoring, clinical technologies, food security and smart cities. We will work with other research councils to engage our researchers in challenges outside our remit that require high quality, novel sensors and instrumentation research.
As this is a research area that requires capital investment in equipment and infrastructure, we will support the community in identifying gaps and opportunities to ensure high quality research is delivered. We will also work with both the academic and the industrial community to promote leadership in the field of sensors and instrumentation.
This research area is also of potential relevance to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s Official Development Assistance funding streams.