Recent advances in biomimetic sensing technologies

Abstract

The importance of biological materials has long been recognized from the molecular level to higher levels of organization. Whereas, in traditional engineering, hardness and stiffness are considered desirable properties in a material, biology makes considerable and advantageous use of softer, more pliable resources. The development, structure and mechanics of these materials are well documented and will not be covered here. The purpose of this paper is, however, to demonstrate the importance of such materials and, in particular, the functional structures they form. Using only a few simple building blocks, nature is able to develop a plethora of diverse materials, each with a very different set of mechanical properties and from which a seemingly impossibly large number of assorted structures are formed. There is little doubt that this is made possible by the fact that the majority of biological 'materials' or 'structures' are based on fibres and that these fibres provide opportunities for functional hierarchies. We show how these structures have inspired a new generation of innovative technologies in the science and engineering community. Particular attention is given to the use of insects as models for biomimetically inspired innovations.

Bioinspired Cilia Sensors with Graphene Sensing Elements Fabricated Using 3D Printing and Casting

“…The creative micromechanical designs of various biological sensors such as acoustic sensors in the inner ear, olfactory sensors in sharks, neuromast flow sensors in fishes, wake sensing whiskers in seals, tactile sensors in human finger tips, thermal sensors in beetles, and so on, exhibit impressive sensitivity and high efficiency in filtering biologically-relevant signals in noisy ambient conditions [1,2,3]. In the pursuit of efficient microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors, researchers have taken inspiration from natural sensors mainly by mimicking their unique morphology, materials, geometry, and functionality [4,5,6,7,8,9].…”

The importance of antennal mechanosensilla of Sepedon fuscipennis (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)

“…This agrees with the idea of Johnson et al . (2009), who also noted that arrangement and location of mechanosensilla influence the stress placed upon them, which in this case would be from the lateral surface medially. This also agrees with Johnson et al .…”

“…This also agrees with Johnson et al . (2009), who further noted that, “The oval shape of a campaniform sensillum means that it can be deformed more readily in one direction than the other, providing a level of directional sensitivity to the strain”.…”

Preparation of Soft Shape Memory Polymer and Its Application as a Compliant Thermal‐Triggered Gripper

“…Thus, soft SMPs, which own low modulus at low temperature (< T g or T m ) are highly required. Besides that, soft SMPs also find their use in the application of biomimetic sensing and actuation and comfort fitting fabric, where the employed materials have to adapt to the human tissues that requires the modulus keeping blow 150 MPa …”