BAE Systems has achieved a significant milestone by securing a $12 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to enhance sensor technologies that can endure extreme temperature conditions. This initiative will be spearheaded by BAE Systems’ FAST Labs division, which is tasked with developing an innovative pressure sensor module that ensures optimal performance even under extreme heat.
The advanced pressure sensor module is set to integrate a transducer with signal-conditioning microelectronics. This development promises to allow the sensor to operate reliably in temperatures reaching up to 800 degrees Celsius (1,472 degrees Fahrenheit). Amrita Masurkar, the technology development manager at FAST Labs, noted that this advancement opens the door to high-bandwidth pressure sensors that can function in high-temperature environments, a feat that was not previously attainable.
This contract is part of DARPA’s High Operational Temperature Sensors (HOTS) program, which aims to create state-of-the-art microelectronic sensors tailored for vital defense and industrial uses. Many modern technological systems, including hypersonic aircraft, missiles, and jet engine turbines, must operate in environments where extreme heat is a constant challenge. Currently, the limitations of existing sensors are evident, as they typically cannot function beyond temperatures of 225 degrees Celsius (437 degrees Fahrenheit). This limitation results in damage to silicon-based circuitry and their protective packaging.
Masurkar emphasized the program’s potential impact, revealing that the new sensors could significantly enhance applications such as industrial process control, jet engine prognostics, and space exploration. The ability to collect real-time data using high-temperature pressure sensors and circuitry could lead to groundbreaking improvements across various fields that rely on advanced technology in harsh environments.
