The mission of COINS is to inspire and realize truly revolutionary applications involving molecular transport, replication, and energy conversion using nano-mechanical technology, integrated with suitable societal implications studies and educational, outreach, and knowledge transfer programs. Specifically, the technical focus of COINS is to develop, in parallel, two closely related nanosensor systems: (1) a new Personal And Community-based environmental MONitoring (PACMON), and (2) a chemical/biological sensing with integrated communication and power for tagging, tracking, and locating applications (TTL).

To realize efficiently the goals of COINS, a carefully designed and integrated plan combining the talents of 30 investigators spanning 10 different disciplines (applied physics, bioengineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, economics, electrical engineering and computer science, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, molecular and cell biology, and physics) has been established and set into motion. Six major research thrusts - synthesis, simulation, characterization, instrumentation, integration, and society - couple the three naturally divided technology tiers of System Integration, Enabling Technology, and Fundamental Knowledge Base, all necessary to support TTL and PACMON.