Wee-g: A MEMS gravimeter for precision gravity surveying in Security and the Environment

Wee-g：用于安全和环境领域精密重力测量的 MEMS 重力仪

• 批准号: ST/X508986/1
• 负责人: Giles Hammond
• 金额: $ 44.14万
• 依托单位: University of Glasgow
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FX508986%2F1
• 关键词: Wee; MEMS; gravimeter; precision; gravity

By measuring subtle changes (<10-8) in the acceleration of gravity we can infer the local density of nearby objects. When the density is lower (e.g. a tunnel) the local gravity becomes slightly less. While this technique is readily adopted in the oil & gas industry to (i) search for new resources (ii) perform long term monitoring at active wells, broader uptake of gravimetry in other fields is limited due to the high upfront cost of gravimeters ($80k for a Scintrex CG6), the fragility of devices and the time it takes to undertake field surveys with a single instrument. There are disruptive opportunities for gravimetry to breakthrough into other fields including environmental monitoring and security & defence. For environmental monitoring, a smaller-lighter-cheaper gravimeter will open-up opportunities for (i) deployment of sensors arrays of volcanos as a technique to image the magma plumbing system and provide resilience against eruptions, (ii) performing rapid field surveys to identify collapsed culverts, sinkholes or underground tunnels. Within the field of Security & Defence there are further opportunities of monitoring ports of entry with underwater sensors, detecting underground tunnels and monitoring compounds. Beyond this, we see opportunities in monitoring dam infrastructure, carbon capture, geothermal engineering detection/monitoring of underground aquifers. Wee-g is a precision MicroElectroMechanicalSensor (MEMS) that has been developed within the Institute for Gravitational Research (University of Glasgow). It is a spin-off from the Gravitational-Wave research activities led by Prof . Hammond. Wee-g is the world's first gravimeter, capable of monitoring the Earth tides; elastic deformations of the Earth caused by the tidal potential of the Moon and Sun. As typical gravity signals are 10-50% of the Earth ides, this is an essential measurement to show devices have sufficient stability and sensitivity. The Wee-g sensor has the potential to be made much cheaper than existing gravimeters, and thus can open-up these new opportunities in Environmental monitoring and Security & Defence. Field trials are underway with partners in both the Environmental and Security & Defence fields. Wee-g Mk I systems are being deployed on Mt Etna as part of a H2020 project (Newton-g) to monitor magma intrusion in volcanoes, and we estimate the TRL is 5. We also have a system being trialled by DSTL for underwater monitoring at a port of entry. We will use this proposal to further develop the Wee-g gravimeter (Mk II system) to put us in a prime position to spinout. We will address some of the challenges found in the Mk I system including temperature sensitivity of the MEMS chip, miniaturisation and temperature stability of the front-end electronics, and removing reliance on evaluation FPGA boards which are liable to be discontinued.

通过测量重力加速度的细微变化（<10-8），我们可以推断附近物体的局部密度。当密度较低时（例如隧道），局部重力会稍微减小。虽然该技术很容易在石油和天然气行业中采用，以 (i) 寻找新资源 (ii) 在活跃井中进行长期监测，但由于重力计的前期成本较高（80 美元），重力测量在其他领域的广泛采用受到限制k 对于 Scintrex CG6）、设备的脆弱性以及使用单个仪器进行现场调查所需的时间。重力测量有突破性的机会突破其他领域，包括环境监测和安全与国防。对于环境监测，更小、更轻、更便宜的重力计将为以下方面提供机会：（i）部署火山传感器阵列，作为对岩浆管道系统进行成像并提供抵御喷发能力的技术，（ii）进行快速现场调查以识别倒塌的涵洞、天坑或地下隧道。在安全与国防领域，还有利用水下传感器监控入境口岸、探测地下隧道和监控院落的更多机会。除此之外，我们还看到了监测大坝基础设施、碳捕获、地热工程检测/地下含水层监测的机会。 Wee-g 是一种精密微机电传感器 (MEMS)，由格拉斯哥大学重力研究所开发。它是 . 教授领导的引力波研究活动的副产品。哈蒙德。 Wee-g是世界上第一台重力仪，能够监测地球潮汐；由月球和太阳的潮汐势引起的地球弹性变形。由于典型的重力信号占地球重力信号的 10-50%，因此这是显示设备具有足够稳定性和灵敏度的重要测量。 Wee-g 传感器有可能比现有重力计便宜得多，因此可以在环境监测和安全与国防领域开辟这些新机会。目前正在与环境和安全与国防领域的合作伙伴进行现场试验。 Wee-g Mk I 系统正在埃特纳火山上部署，作为 H2020 项目 (Newton-g) 的一部分，用于监测火山中的岩浆侵入，我们估计 TRL 为 5。我们还有 DSTL 正在试用的系统用于水下监测在入境口岸。我们将利用这一提案进一步开发 Wee-g 重力仪（Mk II 系统），使我们处于分拆的有利位置。我们将解决 Mk I 系统中发现的一些挑战，包括 MEMS 芯片的温度敏感性、前端电子器件的小型化和温度稳定性，以及消除对可能停产的评估 FPGA 板的依赖。