Fleck specks keep track
Pinching the mug of the Science by Email editor should be considered a crime. Fortunately, it has been returned, and no harm was done. But if it could only talk! What adventures did it have? Where did it go? Who stole it in the first place?
If it had have been armed with a small device called a FLECK nano, such questions might have been answered.
A few years ago, CSIRO developed a wireless device called a FLECK, consisting of a central processing unit, flash memory and a radio transceiver. FLECKs could be outfitted with a range of different sensors to record conditions in their surroundings, such as the temperature or moisture.
Having a network of FLECKs in an environment can help scientists monitor micro-climates in different parts of an ecosystem or track animals and observe their behaviours. It’s like having a team of eyes and ears in the field, recording conditions over long periods of time.
Now, the FLECK has a smaller cousin – the nano. Where the bigger ‘3B’ version barely fits into the palm of your hand, the nano is a mere 20 mm by 25 mm, opening it up to a world of new possibilities. By being smaller and less intrusive, the FLECK nano could be tucked away on food items, tracking their experiences between the producer and the shelf, recording temperature fluctuations, humidity and even how much they have been jostled in their packaging.
The team admits such tiny devices could be abused, perhaps to infringe on another’s privacy. However, they believe there are ways to make the FLECK nano less appealing for potential spies.
The next step for the researchers is to find a way for the nano to be powered without the need for a battery, allowing them to shrink it even further. With technology that makes better use of its energy supply, the device could recharge with a few minutes of sunlight or even by being moved around.
If only they could shrink them to fit onto something even smaller than a cup. Now, where did that pen go?
