Principal investigator: John Suarez
University: Widener University
Industry partner: Probes Unlimited, Inc.
This project will build upon the preliminary work of Probes Unlimited, Inc. (PUI) to design, prototype, rigorously test, and manufacture a precision sensor for monitoring cooking oil quality. PUI intends to market this sensor to Pennsylvania restaurants, eateries, and bakeries. Widener University will conduct the necessary research and development to assist PUI in developing the capacitive sensor with the required characteristics.
The scope of the project will go beyond the development of a working engineering prototype. The goal of the project is to develop a capacitive sensor with back-end electronics that exceeds the specifications required by PUI and its customers. That is, in addition to meeting required specifications, the sensor and accompanying electronics will be fully scalable, reproducible, and suitable for mass production. The sensor must not only withstand the high temperatures typically encountered in the preparation of fried food, its back-end electronics must be compact and resilient to the high-temperature environment typically found in the busiest kitchens, serving Pennsylvania customers from early morning to late-night hours.