Biomimetic MEMS sensor array for navigation and water detection

Oliver Futterknecht; Mark O. Macqueen; Salmah Karman; S. Zaleha M. Diah; Ille C. Gebeshuber

doi:10.1117/12.2016953

17 May 2013 Biomimetic MEMS sensor array for navigation and water detection

Oliver Futterknecht, Mark O. Macqueen, Salmah Karman, S. Zaleha M. Diah, Ille C. Gebeshuber

Proceedings Volume 8763, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS VI; 87632B (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016953
Event: SPIE Microtechnologies, 2013, Grenoble, France

Abstract

The focus of this study is biomimetic concept development for a MEMS sensor array for navigation and water detection. The MEMS sensor array is inspired by abstractions of the respective biological functions: polarized skylight-based navigation sensors in honeybees (Apis mellifera) and the ability of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) to detect water. The focus lies on how to navigate to and how to detect water sources in desert-like or remote areas. The goal is to develop a sensor that can provide both, navigation clues and help in detecting nearby water sources. We basically use the information provided by the natural polarization pattern produced by the sunbeams scattered within the atmosphere combined with the capability of the honeybee’s compound eye to extrapolate the navigation information. The detection device uses light beam reactive MEMS, which are capable to detect the skylight polarization based on the Rayleigh sky model. For water detection we present various possible approaches to realize the sensor. In the first approach, polarization is used: moisture saturated areas near ground have a small but distinctively different effect on scattering and polarizing light than less moist ones. Modified skylight polarization sensors (Karman, Diah and Gebeshuber, 2012) are used to visualize this small change in scattering. The second approach is inspired by the ability of elephants to detect infrasound produced by underground water reservoirs, and shall be used to determine the location of underground rivers and visualize their exact routes.

Citation Download Citation

Oliver Futterknecht, Mark O. Macqueen, Salmah Karman, S. Zaleha M. Diah, and Ille C. Gebeshuber "Biomimetic MEMS sensor array for navigation and water detection", Proc. SPIE 8763, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS VI, 87632B (17 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016953

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