title: Artificial fish skin of self-powered micro-electromechanical systems hair cells for sensing hydrodynamic flow phenomena.
abstract: Using biological sensors, aquatic animals like fishes are capable of performing impressive behaviours such as super-manoeuvrability, hydrodynamic flow 'vision' and object localization with a success unmatched by human-engineered technologies. Inspired by the multiple functionalities of the ubiquitous lateral-line sensors of fishes, we developed flexible and surface-mountable arrays of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) artificial hair cell flow sensors. This paper reports the development of the MEMS artificial versions of superficial and canal neuromasts and experimental characterization of their unique flow-sensing roles. Our MEMS flow sensors feature a stereolithographically fabricated polymer hair cell mounted on Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O3 micro-diaphragm with floating bottom electrode. Canal-inspired versions are developed by mounting a polymer canal with pores that guide external flows to the hair cells embedded in the canal. Experimental results conducted employing our MEMS artificial superficial neuromasts (SNs) demonstrated a high sensitivity and very low threshold detection limit of 22 mV/(mm s(-1)) and 8.2 µm s(-1), respectively, for an oscillating dipole stimulus vibrating at 35 Hz. Flexible arrays of such superficial sensors were demonstrated to localize an underwater dipole stimulus. Comparative experimental studies revealed a high-pass filtering nature of the canal encapsulated sensors with a cut-off frequency of 10 Hz and a flat frequency response of artificial SNs. Flexible arrays of self-powered, miniaturized, light-weight, low-cost and robust artificial lateral-line systems could enhance the capabilities of underwater vehicles.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling (CENSAM), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Singapore 138602, Republic of Singapore School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadnia
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling (CENSAM), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Singapore 138602, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Ajay Giri Prakash
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kottapalli
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore mjmmiao@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Majid Ebrahimi
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Warkiani
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling (CENSAM), Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Singapore 138602, Republic of Singapore Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics; D004566:Electrodes; D005399:Fishes; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D053403:Lateral Line System / Q000502:physiology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000737:chemistry*; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D016011:Normal Distribution; D009991:Oscillometry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water
keywords: biomimetic sensors; canal neuromast; piezoelectric flow sensor; superficial neuromast; underwater sensing