< Previous9 /9 3 /10 9 TRL /9 H YPERSPECTRAL SENSORS, which are in the Mass Adoption Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new sensing systems, both ground, sky and space based, capable of sensing signals across the electromagnetic spectrum. Recent breakthroughs include dramatic advances in their sensitivity which allow them to detect increasingly weak signals, including Radio Frequency signals from space, and sense increasingly minute variations in field strengths. DEFINITION Hyperspectral Sensors collect and process information from across the full range of the Electromagnetic spectrum. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Hyperspectral Sensors to monitor the health of crops from space, and track illegal shipping, as well as monitor the global climate. In the future the primary applications of the technology will include a wide variety of applications including everything from QA testing and infrastructure assessments, to the development of advanced Drone based sensing platforms. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Aerospace, and Defence sectors, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the size and cost of sensor systems decrease, while their sensitivity, and therefore their applications, continues to increase. While Hyperspectral Sensors are in the Mass Adoption Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Nano-Manufacturing, Nanophotonic Materials, and Sensor Technology, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 7 7 3 9 9 7 6 9 1981 2011 2013 2016 2020 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT HYPERSPECTRAL SENSORS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 440311institute.com MRL3 /9 2 /10 5 TRL /9 L ENSELESS CAMERAS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with trying to turn a variety of materials into camera systems that are capable enough to take photos and videos, and monitor the world around them. Recent breakthroughs include turning ordinary car windows into Lenseless Cameras by placing a ring of sensors around their periphery that are capable of capturing the photons of light bouncing around and reflecting off of the pane’s inner surfaces and sending that information through to an Artificial Intelligence for final processing to create low resolution images which are good enough, at the moment, for basic Machine Vision applications. DEFINITION Lenseless Cameras are transparent materials embedded with intelligence that allows them to capture and process light to produce images. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using the first Lensless Camera prototypes to prove the theory and refine the technology. In the future the primary applications of the technology will include turning a variety of different materials and surfaces into camera and sensing systems that will have a dramatic impact on where we can deploy and use Machine Vision systems. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by organisations in the Consumer Electronics sector, with support from university grants. In time we will see the resolution of the images that the technology is able to produce improve, and the colour balance and contrast of those images improve. While Lenseless Cameras are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Technology, Hyperspectral Sensors, and Materials, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 4 3 6 6 2 1 8 2011 2017 2018 2025 2032 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘24 LENSELESS CAMERAS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 441311institute.com MRL3 /9 7 /10 4 TRL /9 L IVING SENSORS, which are in the Concept Stage and Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with turning living organisms into sensing system that can detect, and when needed, respond to a wide variety of different stimuli, including biological, chemical, mechanical, magnetic, optical, physical, and thermal, to name but a few. Recent breakthroughs include using gene editing techniques to turn terrestrial plants, as well as certain marine animals, into sensors that can detect, and then in some cases communicate the presence of, minute variations in electromagnetic field strength, and pressure, as well as the presence of specific chemicals and pollutants in the environment. DEFINITION Living Sensors are genetically engineered organisms that have been modified and optimised to detect and respond to specific stimuli. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using the first Living Sensors prototypes to test the theory that we can modify nature to our own means, and refine the technology. In the future the primary applications of the technology will be almost limitless. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Defence sector, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the tools and biological programming languages we use to develop Living Sensors mature, and the technology become more sophisticated and viable. That said though there will be obvious ethical, moral and regulatory hurdles to overcome which will have a significant impact on the technologies eventual adoption outside of the Defence sector. While Living Sensors are in the Concept Stage and Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Bio-Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Manufacturing, Creative Machines, CRISPR Gene Editing, Semi-Synthetic Cells, Stem Cell Technology, Synthetic Cells, and Tissue Engineering, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 1 2 3 3 6 2 1 9 2008 2015 2020 2030 2042 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT LIVING SENSORS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 442311institute.com MRL3 /9 5 /10 6 TRL /9 N ANO-ANTENNAE, which are in the early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with making antennae that are microscopic and just 1 to 100 nanometers in scale. Recently there have been a number of breakthroughs in this space made by researchers who have developed both conventional nanoscale antennae systems and Nano-Fluidic ones as well as more exotic DNA based nano-antennae which mean that in time we will be able to connect and capture data from even the smallest things and pieces of matter, including living cells. DEFINITION Nano-Antennae are nanoscale communications devices that can send and detect electromagnetic waves. EXAMPLE USE CASES While there are many examples I could cite some of the most interesting include the use of DNA nano-antennae to create the Internet of Living Things (IoLT), and which when combined with Cellular Recorder technologies could let us capture, analyse, and transmit information about the behaviours of individual human cells in our bodies for information and medical purposes. Elsewhere nano-antennae could also be embedded into anything and everything, including home furnishings and fabrics, to enable better 6G communications, and millions more examples. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, albeit from a low but growing base, primarily led by organisations in the communications and technology sectors, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see Nano-Antenna become commonplace, tie into the Internet of Things (IoT) trend, and help us connect everyone and everything in new ways. While Nano-Antenna are in the early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Atomic Manufacturing, Bio- Manufacturing, Cognitive Radio, Genetic Engineering, Nano- Manufacturing, and others, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in this space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 4 6 3 7 9 3 4 8 1986 2010 2016 2021 2036 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT NANO-ANTENNAE STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 443311institute.com EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. MRL3 /9 7 /10 5 TRL /9 N ANO-SENSORS, which are in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing nanoscale sensors that are capable of detecting a wide range of stimuli across the biological, chemical, electromagnetic, and mechanical spectrums, and converting that information into chemical, mechanical, molecular, or optical signals that can be communicated to other systems. Recent breakthroughs include the development of new ways to manufacture advanced Nano-Sensors and substrates using nothing more than an inkjet printer and Titanium Oxide ink, which, as the process is refined could open the door to mass market production of high quality, inexpensive sensors with a wide range of applications. DEFINITION Nano Sensors are nano sized biological, chemical or surgical sensors that can collect and exchange data with other systems and devices. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Nano-Sensors to quickly and cheaply detect disease and nanoscale objects, including bacteria, to enable faster disease detection. in the future the primary use cases of the technology will be almost limitless. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Manufacturing sector, with support from government funding and univesity grants. In time we will see our ability to build and manufacture increasingly capable and sophisticated nano-sensors improve, but their wide spread adoption might be hampered by a lack of understanding the impact that such small products have on the wider environment, as well as the human body. While Nano-Sensors are in the Prototype Stage and Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Electro-Mechanical Sensors, Living Sensors, Molecular Communications, and Nano-Manufacturing, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 6 6 5 6 7 5 4 8 1977 1981 1993 1997 2036 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT NANO-SENSORS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘19 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 444311institute.com MRL7 /9 2 /10 9 TRL /9 N EUTRON DETECTORS, which are in the Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with finding new ways to detect Neutrons. Recently there have been a number of breakthroughs including the development of the first hand held Neutron Detectors which for the first time improve the technology’s accessibility and usefulness, as well as the development of the first neutron detecting drones and UAV’s which are able to detect the presence of bombs and explosives from miles away.. DEFINITION Neutron Detectors enable the effective detection of neutrons in the environment. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today Neutron Detectors are used primarily by the military and governments to detect nuclear material and while this is unlikely to change much in the future as the technology continues to miniaturise the technology could find its way into more healthcare settings where it can be used in Nuclear Medicine. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Defence sector, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the technology being embedded into smaller formats and more widely deployed in the field. While Neutron Detectors are in the Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductors, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 6 4 2 8 5 6 5 9 1932 1964 1986 1998 2032 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: NONE NEUTRON DETECTORS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 445311institute.com MRL4 /9 3 /10 6 TRL /9 O PTICAL BIO-SENSORS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with trying to find new ways to combine optical sensing systems and biological sensing systems into a single integrated device that help improve researchers ability to sense biologics in the environment around them. Recently there have been a number of significant breakthroughs in the field including the development of face masks which incorporate Bio-Sensors with fluorescing and mRNA sensors that can detect pathogens, such as COVID-19, in the air around people, make the masks glow, and then warn the wearers appropriately. DEFINITION Optical Bio-Sensors use a combination of optical and biological sensing components to extend the capabilities of sensor technologies. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today Optical Bio-Sensors are being used to detect pollution in the environment. In the future the technology could be used in all manner of ways including to help identify the presence of dangerous airborne pathogens in hospitals in real time. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by funding from government and university grants. In time we will see the technology mature and its costs come down, at which point it will become easy to embed into all manner of items, from smart devices to clothing. While Optical Bio-Sensors are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing, Gene Editing, Genetic Engineering, Nanotechnology, Sensor Fusion, and Sensor technology, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 4 4 3 8 9 6 4 8 1981 1983 2019 2029 2036 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 OPTICAL BIO-SENSORS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 446311institute.com MRL3 /9 3 /10 5 TRL /9 P HOTONIC SENSORS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing sensors with integrated photonics that can detect photons down to the single photon level, the applications of which are broad and varied. Recently there have been a number of breakthroughs in the field including the development of the first exclusive megapixel photon sensing camera that uses Artificial Intelligence to allow autonomous vehicles and cameras see round corners, and then elsewhere more traditional photonic sensors, which are also getting more powerful and higher resolution, have broken the 200 Megapixel barrier and let researchers create even more powerful high speed camera and imaging systems. DEFINITION Photonic Sensors are devices that sense light and releases electricity. EXAMPLE USE CASES While there are many examples of photonic sensors, from the camera in your smartphone to the sensors in your home’s CCTV system, they are now getting so sensitive and powerful that soldiers using photonic camera systems to see around corners, and automotive manufactures will soon be able to use them to help autonomous vehicles not only see around corners but stitch these images and this “intelligence” together to create what’s rapidly becoming known as Smart City “Spatial Intelligence” where one person or one system can “see” an entire city in one go in real time and then use that data accordingly. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, primarily led by organisations in the consumer retail, defense, and transportation sectors, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see Photonic Sensors, even the most advance ones, become much more commonplace and we’ll likely also see them embedded into all manner of everyday objects including lenseless and metalense camera and sensing systems, as well as Terahertz cameras. While Photonic Sensors are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Materials, Nano-Manufacturing, and others, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in this space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 6 6 5 7 7 4 3 8 1991 2013 2017 2026 2037 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT PHOTONIC SENSORS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘22 447311institute.com EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. MRL6 /9 2 /10 9 TRL /9 P HYTCHOGRAPHY, which is in the late Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new non-destructive microscopic imaging techniques that rely primarily on sources including electrons, extreme ultraviolet light, X-Rays, and visible light which are unaffected by lens-induced aberrations or diffraction effects that can have a negative impact when imaging products at the atomic wavelength. While this is a relatively established field recent breakthroughs include the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a new Ptychographic X-Ray Laminography (PXL) technique that for the first time lets researchers image and then easily verify and reverse engineer modern 3D designed computer chips, which becomes especially useful when trying to find hidden backdoors or exploits in them which until now was at best very difficult. There have also seen advances in the development of Fourier Ptychography (FP) which for the first time lets researchers create gigapixel-scale images of microscopic products without requiring any moving parts. DEFINITION Ptychography is a detector based computational method of microscopic imaging. EXAMPLE USE CASES The primary use case, certainly for PXL, is helping national security agencies check for computer chip based hardware trojans and kill switches. Other use cases include analysing the phase information of products such as the growth of biological cells, as well as materials including Biominerals and 2D Metasurfaces, and aiding the development of new computing products and detector systems. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade we will continue to see interest in the field accelerate albeit from a very low base, predominantly led by the defence, healthcare, and technology sectors, and government grants. As our ability to image ever smaller products at the atomic scale improves this field will have an impact on everything from the development of new computer chips to new materials so its importance should not be underestimated. While Ptychography is in the late Productisation Stage over the longer term it could be enhanced by advances in AI, Materials, Sensors, and other technologies, however over the long term it’s unclear what it will be superseded by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 5 3 2 8 8 4 3 9 1987 1991 1996 2009 2032 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT PTYCHOGRAPHY STARBURST APPEARANCES: NONE EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 448311institute.com MRL3 /9 3 /10 5 TRL /9 Q UANTUM SENSORS, which are in the Prototype Stage and very early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing sensors millions of times more sensitive than today’s most sensitive sensors that harness the weird properties of Quantum Mechanics, and that can even monitor changes at the nanoscale. Recent breakthroughs include creating the world’s first Quantum Compass, that is so sensitive to the variations in the Earth’s magnetic field that it’s capable of replacing today’s GPS platforms, and the first quantum sensors capable of detecting the minutest changes in living cells that allow us to diagnose and monitor disease at the cellular, not just the system, level. DEFINITION Quantum Sensors exploit quantum correlations, such as quantum entanglement, to achieve a sensitivity or resolution that cannot be achieved using traditional sensor systems. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using the first Quantum Sensor prototypes to create more precise quantum clocks, and quantum compasses capable of replacing today’s GPS networks, and ultra-sensitive subterranean sensors that can detect even the deepest groundwater and mineral deposits, and underground anomalies. In the future the primary applications of the technology will be almost limitless, and include everything from civil engineering and defence applications, through to environmental monitoring and more sophisticated and sensitive sensors for wearable technologies. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a low base, primarily led by organisations in the Defence sector, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the sensitivity of the devices increase, and our ability to produce them efficiently and reliably at scale increase. While Quantum Sensors are in the Prototype Stage and very early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Quantum Dots, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 2 2 7 8 4 2 8 1982 2002 2016 2018 2044 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 QUANTUM SENSORS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 449311institute.com MRLNext >