We present the design and verification of a desktop system for the automated production of nanostructured thin films via spin-assisted layer-by-layer (spin-LBL) assembly. The utility of this system is demonstrated by fabricating polyvinyl alcohol/clay nanocomposites. Ellipsometry measurements demonstrate that the automated spin-LBL method creates composites with bilayer thickness and growth rate comparable to traditional dip-LBL; however, the cycle time of the spin-LBL method is an order of magnitude faster. Small angle X-ray scattering analysis shows that the clay platelets in spin-LBL nanocomposites are more highly aligned than in dip-LBL composites. This method can significantly increase the throughput of laboratory-scale LBL discovery and processing, can enable testing of functional properties of LBL nanocomposites over wafer-scale areas, and can be scaled to larger substrates for commercial production.

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Augmented Reality (AR) combines real-world visual data with an overlay of computer graphics, enhancing the original video feed. AR can improve communication between robots and users via an intuitive spatial and visual dialogue, making it an attractive tool for teleoperated robot user interfaces (UIs). Many Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) teleoperation tasks require both chassis navigation and manipulator arm control; however existing literature usually focuses on one task or the other, so there exists a gap in mobile robot UIs that take advantage of AR for both navigation and manipulation. This work describes the development and initial testing of a low-cost alpha-design UI for a teleoperated mobile manipulation task that uses AR technology to help the user feel more present in the robot’s environment. The results of the initial user tests are to be used to guide the future development of the user interface.

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