Biomimetic Hair Sensor Arrays: From Inspiration To Implementation

In this work, we report on the successful implementation of highly sensitive artificial hair-based flow-sensor arrays for sensing low-frequency air flows. Artificial hair sensors are bio-inspired from crickets’ cercal filiform hairs, one of nature’s best in sensing small air flows. The presented artificial hair sensor arrays aim for sensing performances on a par with the actual insects by means of model-based design optimizations and are fabricated using advanced MEMS technologies.\u

Optimization Of Bio-inspired Hair Sensor Arrays

Crickets use a pair of hairy appendages on their abdomen called cerci, each of which contains numerous mechano-receptive filiform hairs. These sensitive hairs can respond even to the slightest air movements, down to 0.03 mm/s, generated by the approaching predators and initiating an escape mechanism in the crickets. Bio-mimicking the cricket cerci, arrays of artificial hair sensors have been successfully fabricated using advanced MEMS techniques. Despite its appreciable performance, the actual cricket filiform hairs outperform artificial hair sensors by several orders in sensitivity. Nevertheless, more careful look at the anatomy and physiology of the cricket cerci provides new directions to be explored with MEMS technologies to realize higher sensitivities on a par with crickets’. This paper aims to provide an overview of comparisons between the actual and artificial hair sensors in terms of sensitivity, structural functionalities and robustness and draws out constructive insights to optimize sensor performance

Dipole source localisation using bio-mimetic flow-sensor arrays

AbstractFlow sensor arrays can be used to extract spatio-temporal flow signatures rather than average or local flow quantities. We look at the equivalent of a fish lateral-line sensor array in air and assess the ability of our artificial hairs flow-sensor arrays to detect flow velocity distributions generated by a vibrating sphere. The measured flow patterns along a virtual lateral-line, carried out over a bandwidth of 0.3 Hz, are found to be in excellent agreement with theory and are used successfully to demonstrate source-distance determination

Multivalent host-guest interactions between ss-cyclodextrin self-assembled monolayers and poly (isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s modified with hydrophobic guest moeties

Poly(isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s modified with p-tert-butylphenyl or adamantyl groups interact with ß-cyclodextrin self-assembled monolayers (ß-CD SAMs) by inclusion of the hydrophobic substituents in the B-cyclodextrin cavities. The adsorption was shown to be strong, specific, and irreversible. Even with a monovalent competitor in solution, adsorption to the ß-CD SAMs was observed, and desorption proved impossible. The adsorbed polymer layer was very thin as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and AFM. Apparently, all or most hydrophobic groups of the polymers were employed efficiently in multivalent binding, as was further supported by the absence of specific binding of ß-CD-modified gold nanoparticles to the polymer surface assemblies. Supramolecular microcontact printing of the polymers onto the ß-CD SAMs led to assembly formation in the targeted areas of the substrates

Stamps for submicrometer soft lithography fabricated by capillary force lithography

Lithography, capillary force • Lithography, soft • Replica molding • Stamps

Teoría genética de Piaget: constructivismo cognitivo

El document presenta les idees fonamentals que caracteritzen la visió piagetiana del desenvolupament psicològic

Non-resonant parametric amplification in biomimetic hair flow sensors: Selective gain and tunable filtering

We demonstrate that the responsivity of flow sensors for harmonic flows can be improved significantly by non-resonant parametric amplification. Using electrostatic spring softening by AC-bias voltages, increased responsivity and sharp filtering are achieved in our biomimetic flow sensors. Tunable filtering is obtained for non-resonant electromechanical parametric amplification, applicable at a wide range of non-resonant frequencies while achieving highly selective gain of up to 20 dB

Non-degenerate parametric amplification and filtering in biomimetic hair flow sensors

We report non-degenerate parametric amplification in our biomimetic MEMS hair-based flow-sensors with improved responsivity and sharp filtering through AC-biasing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first flow sensor with tunable filtering by non-degenerate electromechanical parametric amplification, applicable at a wide range of non-resonant frequencies and achieving highly selective gain of up to 20 dB