Cricket inspired flow-sensor arrays

Abstract

Crickets, like many other arthropods, are evolved with an astonishing sensory system, which plays a vital role in their survival. Located at the rear-end of the crickets, are a pair of sensory appendages called cerci, carrying numerous mechano-receptive filiform hairs. These filiform hairs are capable of detecting minute air fluctuations in their environment, down to 0.03 mm/s amplitude. The filiform hairs respond by rotation to air movement, thereby initiating a neural response. The cercal filiform hair sensors have fascinated biologists and recently inspired MEMS engineers in developing a new line of bio-inspired mechanical sensors.