Professor R. Ben Mrad

PhD (Michigan)

Area of Research

The research areas include mechatronics, precision design, hydraulics, smart materials, nonlinear control, microelectromechanical systems and microfluidics. The research group is currently focused around the following themes:

1. Use of smart materials for the development of sensors and actuators and their integration into smart systems. This work has been mainly focused on the characterization of piezoceramics. Applications include switches, injectors, dispensers, valves, pumps, active vibration control using linearized actuators, chatter reduction.

2. Design, fabrication and testing of precision positioning devices and linear motors offering nanometer precision. Applications include stages for microfabrication, robotics, biomedical testing and photonics.

3. Design, fabrication and testing of microfluidic components and chips with a focus on micropumps, microvalves, mixing chambers, and high accuracy (picoliter) dispensing. Applications include the development of a lab on a chip and microarraying.

4. Design, fabrication and testing of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) with a focus on the development of sensors and actuators. Applications so far include adaptive optics, optical switches, and RF MEMS.

The Mechatronics and Microsystems Design Laboratory houses a large selection of precision instrumentation and data acquisition systems as well as various modeling and analysis software packages.

Visit the Mechatronics and Microsystems Design Laboratory

5 King's College Road
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8

Tel:	(416) 946-0689
Fax:	(416) 978-7753
Office:	MC 224 (Mechanical Engineering Building)