title: A multitransducer microsystem for insect monitoring and control.
abstract: This paper reports the development and in-vivo testing of a compact multitransducer microsystem intended for neuroethology experiments, including studies of gait dynamics in free-running insects. The system incorporates a combination of custom and off-the-shelf components. Its suite of measurement devices comprises leg-mounted strain gauges, electromyogram (EMG) and extracellular electrodes for the central nervous system, and a two-axis accelerometer. For signal conditioning and selection, the microsystem implements off-the-shelf electronics in a custom chip-on-board configuration. The microsystem measures 16 mm x 19 mm, supports 40 components and 56 I/O leads, and is assembled on a four-layer printed-circuit board. The entire system occupies only 0.65 cm3 and weighs less than 5 g. It has been successfully used to monitor leg-strain and EMG signals on walking cockroaches and for stimulation in the insect central nervous and muscular systems.
authors.affiliation: Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. dlemmerh@umich.edu
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lemmerhirt
authors.forename: Erich M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Staudacher
authors.forename: Kensall D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers