Novel strain sensor for space application inspired by campaniform sensilla
- Paper number
IAC-06-C2.5.09
- Author
Prof. Carlo Menon, Simon Fraser University, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Julian Vincent, University of Bath, United Kingdom
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Animals, including insects, control their posture and movements using proprioceptive sensors. The main mechanical proprioceptors in sensors in insects, campaniform sensilla are found in the external skeleton (cuticle) and are able to sense displacements of the order of 1 nm. The campaniform sensillum is basically a hole extending through the cuticle arranged such that its shape changes in response to specific loads. The shape change is rotated through 90° by the suspension of a bell-shaped cap whose deflection is detected by a cell attached to the inner layer of the cuticle. When the sensor is strained, a train of impulses is propagated to the central nerve system. Insects such as cockroaches and flies can thus use the sensilla to sense strain deformations and to determine both internal loads such as muscle forces and body weight, and external loads such as aerolastic forces on the wings in flight. Embedded strain sensors are of interest for many space applications especially when slender structures are used (solar panels, booms, solar sails etc.) or structural frames must be monitored during hazardous mission phases such as during launch and landing. Strain sensors can also be used as force sensors especially when they are embedded in cantilevers. Therefore, they are suitable for use in several systems and devices including unlocking systems, docking mechanisms, limit switch devices, robotic arms. This paper investigates strain sensor inspired by campaniform sensilla and proposes the design of a new-engineered strain sensor that synthesizes the main characteristics of the natural sensor. In this paper, the integration of the novel sensors in anisotropic material is investigated and the effect of the aspect ratio of the hole in terms both of its sensitivity and its effect on the compliance of the plate in which it is embedded is analysed. The mathematical model and numerical analyses of the novel sensor are described and the results are discussed. A comparison between the proposed bio-inspired sensor and existing strain sensors for space applications is presented and possible improvements for further developments are suggested.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-C2.5.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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