Recent Trends in Semiconductor and Sensor Technology

Smart Landmine Detection Robot Using Sensor Technology and Wireless Communication

2026-01-29T10:09:38+00:00

Landmines remain a critical global problem, posing long-term threats to civilian populations, military personnel, and humanitarian rescue workers in post-conflict regions. Despite the cessation of armed conflicts, millions of unexploded landmines continue to endanger lives and restrict the safe use of land for agriculture, infrastructure development, and rehabilitation. Conventional landmine detection methods, including manual sweeping with metal detectors and the use of trained animals, are not only time-consuming and labour-intensive but also expose operators to extreme risk, making them unsuitable for large-scale and high-risk environments. To address these challenges, this project presents the design and implementation of a smart landmine detection robot that utilizes sensor technology and long-range wireless communication to improve safety and operational efficiency. The system incorporates a metal detector sensor to identify buried metallic landmines and an ultrasonic sensor to detect and avoid obstacles during navigation. An Arduino microcontroller serves as the central processing unit, coordinating sensor inputs and system operations. A global positioning system (GPS) module is integrated to record the precise geographical coordinates of detected landmines, enabling accurate location tracking and mapping. Real-time communication is achieved using an HC-12 wireless module, which transmits detection alerts and location data to a remote monitoring station, allowing safe supervision without direct human involvement. The robot is mounted on a motor-driven chassis designed to traverse uneven terrain and ensure consistent scanning of the target area. Upon detection of a landmine, the system immediately generates an alert along with GPS coordinates, significantly reducing human exposure to hazardous zones.

Copper-doped ZnO Gas Sensor Applications

2026-02-16T09:42:43+00:00

In the present study, zinc oxide thin films doped with copper are synthesized through the sol-gel dip-coating technique, followed by thermal treatment at 350°C. Dip coating is selected as the deposition method for film preparation. The resulting copper-incorporated films are then examined to evaluate their structural and surface morphological characteristics. Field emission scanning electron microscopy is used to examine the surface features of the copper-incorporated ZnO thin films and to identify their optimal morphology. Thereafter, crystallographic analysis using X-ray diffraction and compositional evaluation through EDAX are performed on the Cu-doped ZnO films, followed by an assessment of their electrical resistivity. In the final stage, the nitrogen dioxide sensing performance of the copper-doped ZnO thin films is evaluated, with particular emphasis on response and recovery characteristics. This approach is anticipated to yield superior performance, enabling the fabricated films to function efficiently as gas-sensing materials. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) is employed as a viscosity-modifying agent during solution preparation. The results demonstrate that copper-doped films incorporating Na-CMC and fabricated using the sol–gel dip-coating technique display outstanding catalytic activity toward NO₂ gas detection.

Atmospheric Virus Detection Using Smartphone-based Biosensors: A Conceptual Framework and Future Directions

2026-02-25T11:42:33+00:00

The global impact of airborne viral diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and various respiratory pathogens, has emphasized the pressing requirement for rapid, accessible, and scalable detection technologies capable of real-time monitoring in everyday environments. Conventional approaches, such as RT-PCR and ELISA, while highly accurate, depend on centralized laboratories, specialized equipment, and extended processing times, which hinder prompt outbreak responses and limit deployment in resource-constrained or remote settings. Smartphone-based biosensors present a promising alternative by harnessing the near-universal availability of smartphones, along with their integrated cameras, processors, and connectivity features, to enable point-of-care atmospheric virus detection. This study proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates microfluidic systems for efficient aerosol and droplet sampling, highly specific biorecognition elements such as aptamers and antibodies, sensitive signal transduction mechanisms, including optical and electrochemical methods enhanced by nanomaterials, and artificial intelligence-driven data processing for reliable interpretation and reduced false positives. By addressing critical challenges like low viral concentrations, environmental interferences, and bioreceptor stability through nanotechnology and machine learning, the framework achieves projected detection times of 10–15 minutes, costs below $5-per-test, and exceptional portability. Potential applications encompass public health surveillance, continuous environmental monitoring, and personalized diagnostics, while future directions highlight wearable integrations, IoT-enabled networked systems, and scalable manufacturing to bolster global pandemic preparedness.

Design and Development of a Low-cost Embedded Sensor Device for Real-time Environmental/Thermal Monitoring

2026-03-06T04:24:20+00:00

The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, exacerbated by climate change and local factors in tropical regions such as the Niger Delta, pose serious risks to human health, agriculture, and infrastructure. This study develops a low-cost, portable heat wave meter to measure and display key psychrometric properties of air—temperature, relative humidity, specific humidity, enthalpy, and heat index—for real-time assessment of heat stress conditions. The device utilizes a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor, an Arduino Uno microcontroller, a 16×4 I2C LCD, and is powered by a 9V battery. Temperature (30–34°C) and relative humidity (55–63%) data were collected and processed to derive specific humidity, enthalpy, and heat index using the NOAA regression formula. SolidWorks was used to model the device for manufacturability. Results showed enthalpy increasing from 67.73 kJ/kg (30°C, 55% RH) to 85.28 kJ/kg (34°C, 63% RH), demonstrating higher energy storage in moist air. Heat index rose sharply from 34.8 to 43.4°C, with values exceeding 40°C triggering “Danger” alerts consistent with NOAA categories, indicating significant heat stress risk. Specific humidity increased from 0.0147 to 0.0211 kg/kg, reflecting elevated moisture capacity at higher temperatures. The meter effectively provides real-time monitoring and alerting for dangerous heat conditions, offering valuable insights for thermal comfort and heat stress evaluation in resource-limited settings. Recommendations include the addition of data logging and the adoption of a rechargeable battery.

Nanotechnology in Electronics: Advancement in Nanochips, Neural Interface and Quantum Process

2026-04-01T05:44:49+00:00

Nanotechnology is one of the main forces behind modern electronic technologies and has led to the design and manufacture of a large number of highly efficient and compact semiconductor devices with very high performance; the use of nano-scale materials and processes in semiconductor design and manufacture has facilitated the growth of nano-scale devices and led to more than doubling the number of transistors manufactured per chip in current nano-scale devices. The transition from microelectronics to nanoelectronics is a major factor in increasing the number of transistors possible on a given chip and the resulting processing speed and efficiency of those devices. In addition to the amazing advances made in semiconductor technology via the transfer of electronic device manufacturing from the micro- to the nano-scale, new transistor architectures (e.g., FinFET, Gate-all-around, etc.) and new materials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, etc.) are available to improve the performance, scalability, and reliability of nano-scale electronic devices. Modern nanofabrication methods (e.g., extreme ultraviolet lithography, atomic layer deposition, etc.) will provide the precision required to manufacture next-generation processors at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology also plays an increasingly important role in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and advanced communications; nano-electronic devices are now being used for brain-computer interface systems, which will offer many new opportunities for medical diagnostics, neural engineering, and assistive technologies, while creating new ethical, security and safety challenges.