Abstract: Opioids can be detected using a test system with ZnO pillars arranged in an array on a silicon wafer. Silver particles are on a top surface and/or side surface of the ZnO pillars. A sample fluid is applied to the test system. A concentration of an opioid compound in the sample fluid is determined using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of the test system. The sample fluid can be blood or a fluid isolated from blood.

Abstract: A method including detecting contaminants in a water sample using a machine learning algorithm having a Laplacian operator configured to extract Raman peak data, a deep neural network, and a K nearest neighbors (KNN) cluster model. The method may include a test system having a silicon nanofiber film, a plurality of ZnO nanorods arranged in an array on the silicon nanofiber film, and a plurality of silver particles disposed on the plurality of ZnO nanorods. A water sample may be applied onto the test system, and the water sample may be measured using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to generate the Raman peak data used in the machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: A system includes piezoelectric nanofibers, an encapsulation polymer, and patterned electrodes in an array. The array structure of the electrodes can create separate piezoelectric sensor elements, which can detect pressure from pressure such as arterial pulse waves. The sensors arrays can be used to detect the pulse wave velocity of the arterial pulse while it is superficial to near-surface arteries. This can enable detection of blood pressure in a wireless manner.

Abstract: Opioids can be detected using a test system with ZnO pillars arranged in an array on a silicon wafer. Silver particles are on a top surface and/or side surface of the ZnO pillars. A sample fluid is applied to the test system. A concentration of an opioid compound in the sample fluid is determined using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of the test system. The sample fluid can be blood or a fluid isolated from blood.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator has a first polymeric layer formed with an arch, a first electrode of metal deposited upon the first polymeric layer; a second polymeric layer formed flat; a second electrode of metal deposited upon the second polymeric layer; and a dielectric disposed on the second electrode. The second polymeric layer is mechanically coupled to the first polymeric layer at a first and second end of the arch. In an embodiment, the actuator has a pair of legs attached to the arch of the first polymeric layer to form a crawler unit. In another embodiment a steerable robot has a first crawling unit with its second polymeric layer mechanically coupled to the second polymeric layer of a second crawling unit.