Summary of FY2002 Budget Request to Congress - National Science Foundation

ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS $57,090,000

The FY 2002 Budget Request for the Electrical and Communications Systems Subactivity is $57.09 million, an increase of $3.12 million, or 5.8 percent, over the FY 2001 Current Plan of $53.97 million.

(Millions of Dollars)

	FY 2000 Actual	FY 2001 Current Plan	FY 2002 Request	Amount	Percent
	FY 2000 Actual	FY 2001 Current Plan	FY 2002 Request	Change
Electrical and Communications Systems	45.28	53.97	57.09	3.12	5.8%

The Electrical and Communications Systems (ECS) Subactivity addresses the fundamental research issues underlying both the device technologies and the engineering systems principles of complex systems and applications. It also seeks to ensure the education of a diverse workforce prepared to support the continued rapid development of these technologies as drivers of the global economy. The research and education supported by ECS are fundamental to developing synergy between micro/nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology in support of the emerging new industries and economy of the 21st century.

The study of microelectronic, nanoelectronic, micromagnetic, photonic, and micro-electromechanical devices (approximately $10.0 million) and their integration into circuits and microsystems is rapidly expanding in technical scope and applications. New generations of integrated microsystems incorporate microchip technology with mechanical, biological, chemical and optical sensors, actuators, and signal processing devices to achieve new functionality. Modern computing and communications systems are based on these devices. Trends toward smaller devices raise new research challenges to fabricate molecular-based nanoscale structures and to understand the quantum principles, which dominate their behavior.

Research on the design and analysis of systems and the convergence of control, communications, and computation (approximately $7.0 million) forms the basis for new research directions in intelligent engineering systems. These systems, which learn new functions and adapt to changing environments, are especially important for advanced applications. Approximately $5.0 million supports the integration of device research and systems principles which has broad applications in telecommunications, wireless networks, power and energy, environment, transportation, biomedicine, manufacturing, and other areas.

ECS also provides support for specialized resources and infrastructure that facilitate research and educational activities, such as the National Nanofabrication Users' Network (NNUN) and the Science and Technology Center on Nanobiotechnology at Cornell University. ECS also actively participates in the development and management of cross-disciplinary programs including industry-related and graduate traineeship programs and research centers.

Recent achievements of ECS grantees include the development and manipulation of nanotubes, magnetic structures using nanotechnology, enhanced coherent soft X-ray generation using shaped pulses, magnetoelastic remote query environmental sensors, two-dimensional photonic bandgap laser and waveguides, nanomems structures for high sensitivity, high frequency measurements, micromachined needles for drug delivery, and to bioseparation sieves to filter viruses.

Innovative advances in new types of sensors, actuators, nonlinear feedback, neural networks, and computer-aided systems engineering design tools are enabling major development of intelligent control systems. The developments in Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology have created new challenges for distributed sensing and control. ECS grantees are developing a retinal prosthetic chip; MEMS based power generation for portable systems, and integration of ultrasonics and MEMS devices for acoustic imaging.

In FY 2002, ECS will maintain support for the Information Technology Research priority area at a level of $2.68 million, unchanged from FY 2001. This support will emphasize research on developing high-end computing tools to accelerate the design of next generation IT manufacturing techniques in areas such as photonic crystals and sensors and detectors.

An increase of $3.12 million will support the Nanobiotechnology Science and Technology Center at Cornell University. Reallocation within the base will provide support for increased activity and future potential applications in the following areas:

Nanoscale Science and Engineering research increases $3.34 million for a total of $20.14 million and focuses support on fundamental principles of electronic and photonic devices, manipulation of nanostructures, and modeling and simulation of new device architectures and systems. Smaller and faster devices based on nanoscale science and engineering will create opportunities for new electronics, biotechnology, and information and communications systems. Investments are also planned for a Nanotechnology Experimentation and Testing Facility (NEXT) to address issues regarding the development of new instrumentation for nanoscale research, characterization and prototyping of devices;

Research in Optical and Wireless Communications and networking devices and systems increases $1.0 million for a total of $5.0 million, and will be emphasized through special inter-directorate and interagency program initiatives. The research will emphasize domain specific applications in the areas of biomedicine, environment, transportation, telemedicine and crisis management;

Research on Sensor, Imaging, and Power and Energy Systems and Networks; Computational Engineering, and Domain Specific Computing will increase $500,000 for a total support of $4.0 million; and

Studies in the development of new and innovative devices and systems in support of biotechnology and bioengineering applications will increase $500,000 for a total of $1.5 million.