Learning from Nature: Biologically-Inspired Sensors taking inspiration from nature to solve sensing problems Dedy H.B. Wicaksono INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS
Learning from Nature:
Biologically-Inspired Sensorstaking inspiration from nature to solve sensing problems
Dedy H.B. Wicaksono
INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS
CASE 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons
CASE 2
Source: http://www.deepwater.com/fw/main/Deepwater-Horizon-56C17.html (upper left
image) and Wikimedia Commons (lower right image)
CASE 3
Source: Detik Foto (upper left image), and Elshinta.com (lower right image)
CASE 4
Source: Ndyteen (left) and detik.com (right)
CASE 5
Source: Dubois, L., J. de Lange, et al. (2010). "Excessive bleeding in the floor of
the mouth after endosseus implant placement: a report of two cases." International
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 39(4): 412-415.
CASE 6
Source: Wikimedia Commons
CASE 7
What is the Problem?
Sensors could be part of the solution. Then
what information needs to be sensed, why,
and how?
Providing appropriate necessary
information at appropriate time for the
appropriate persons
OVERVIEW
•What are Sensors? Why is it necessary?
• Biomimetics-Bioinspired-Bionics?
Bio-inspired Sensors?
• Biological Sensors and Bio-inspired Sensors
a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument
[Wikipedia]
Sensor is a type of transducer, converting one energy (or rather
information) form into another readable, processable form.
a device or organ that detects certain external stimuli and responds in a distinctive manner
[Wiktionary]
DEFINITION
Sensors?
Sensors?
your window to your surrounding!
DEFINITION
Biomimetic-Bionics-Bioinspiration?
• The development of product inspired by
specific design in nature.
• To take a particular ideas of solving
problems from nature, and implementing
the ideas to solve ‘real world’ engineering
problem.
FUNCTION!!
Bio-inspiration
Sensors inspired from Biological Sensory Organs found in Life/Nature
(Sensitive, Adaptive, Robust, and Redundant)
• Structural Biomimetics
• Processing Biomimetics
BIO-INSPIRED SENSORS
Biological and Artificial Sensors
• Ionic
• Stochastic
• Making use of noise
• Adaptive
• Redundant
• Robust
• Hierarchical
• Electronic or Optic
• Deterministic
• Get rid of the Noise!
• Mostly set for
particular conditions
• Essential
components
• Fragile
• One-level
Mechanical
Flow and Vibration
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
• Flexible cuticular “hair” arise from innervated
socket
• Develop from epidermal cells
– trichogen cell forms hair
– tormogen cell forms socket
– sensory neuron
• single dendrite at the hair base
• axon travels to the ganglion
Sensory neurons respond to the
movement of the hair
by firing impulses at a frequency
related to the extend of deflection
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
From the group of Gijs Krijnen, Twente Universiteit
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
From Chang Liu’s group UIUC
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Mechanical
Strain-Stress for Proprioception
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
• Proprioceptors (self-perception receptors)
– Hair plate at joints or neck in contact with adjacent
body part
• relative position of body part
• detection of gravity
– Campaniform sensilla
• detect stress on the cuticle
• distortion (halteres)
– Internal stretch receptors
• detect distension of organs
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Field of hairs at wing base in cockroach
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
From Matushkina, N., and Gorb, S., J. of
Insect Physiology 48 (2002) 213-219
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
The Campaniform Sensillum – Dome-shaped Membrane-in-Recess
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
The Campaniform Sensillum – Dome-shaped Membrane-in-Recess
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Scolopidium
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Slit Sensilla and
Lyriform organ of the
whip spider
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Mechanical
Dynamic acceleration
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
The Haltere
Halteres Hammer-shaped Pillar
Muscles &
Mechano-receptorsDrive & Sense Electrodes
Nerve Control-loop Interface Electronics
The Haltere
Halteres Beating Swinging Motion
The Haltere
The Haltere
Electromagnetic
Infrared Radiation
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
• Boid snakes, vampire bats
• Forest fire-seeking beetle (Melanophila
acuminata)
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Qgen = generated heat [W/m3]kth = thermal conductivity [W/mK]cth = thermal capacity [J/kgK]r = density [kg/m3]
Parabolic temperature profile with maximum in the centre:
Maximum temperature at centre:
Only heat conduction!
Thermal time constant:
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
• Simulations confirm analytical formulas
• For membranes >100 mm other heat transfer phenomena than conduction play an important role
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Sen
sit
ivit
y [
K/W
/cm
2)]
Membrane Sidelength [mm]
Analytically Calculated Sensitivity for d=1000 nm
Numerically Simulated Sensitivity for d=1000 nm
Analytically Calculated Sensitivity for d=600 nm
Numerically Simulated Sensitivity for d=600 nm
Experimentally obtained Sensitivity d = 600 nm
Analytically Calculated Sensitivity for d = 300 nm
Numerically Simulated Sensitivity for d = 300 nm
Analytically Calculated Sensitivity for d=100 nm
Numerically Simulated Sensitivity for d=100 nm
Analytically Calculated Sensitivity for d=50 nm
Numerically Simulated Sensitivity for d=50 nm
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
1
2
3 467 89
10
11
12
Patent Pending EP Appl No. 07120507.4
Hierarchical Nature of Information
Processing
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Biological and Bio-inspired Sensors
Supra-Molecular Level!!
CONCLUSIONS
• Nature can provide inspiratios for possible solutions
to sensing problems
• Information processing in nature happens at various
physical domains at multiple scale
• Taking inspiration from nature should be based on
sound scientific and engineering knowledge to
understand the basic mechanism
• Challenges include limitation in current fabrication
technology and embedded neural-like processing
• The possibilities are endless…