Stress-resolved and cockroach-friendly piezoelectric sensors

R. Cooper; H. Lee; J. Butler; J. Gonzalez; J. Yi; B. Vinson; H. Liang

doi:10.1117/12.777624

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16 April 2008 Stress-resolved and cockroach-friendly piezoelectric sensors

R. Cooper, H. Lee, J. Butler, J. Gonzalez, J. Yi, B. Vinson, H. Liang

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Proceedings Volume 6943, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense VII; 69430A (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.777624
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We investigate effects of bending stress on piezoelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a polymer sensor. The sensor was designed and fabricated into a special size and shape so that it can be attached to small insects, such as the American cockroach (Periplaneta Americana) to measure the insects' locomotion. The performance of the sensor is studied using a controlled linear stage to buckle the sensor mimicking the bending of the sensor due to the leg movements of cockroaches. For comparison, a roach robot was used for multi-leg study. Results indicate that buckling motion of the sensor produce an output that is different from regular stretching effect. The sensor-generated charge depends on the localized stress distribution and dipole alignment. This paper discusses the methods of characterization of piezoelectricity useful for insect applications.

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R. Cooper, H. Lee, J. Butler, J. Gonzalez, J. Yi, B. Vinson, and H. Liang "Stress-resolved and cockroach-friendly piezoelectric sensors", Proc. SPIE 6943, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense VII, 69430A (16 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.777624

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