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A biomimetic 3D airflow sensor made of an array of two piezoelectric metal-core fibers

Yixiang Bian (College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)
Can He (College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)
Kaixuan Sun (College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)
Longchao Dai (College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)
Hui Shen (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China)
Hong Jin (School of Hydraulic Energy and Power Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)
Junjie Gong (College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China)

Sensor Review

ISSN: 0260-2288

Article publication date: 19 June 2017

235

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design and fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) bionic airflow sensing array made of two multi-electrode piezoelectric metal-core fibers (MPMFs), inspired by the structure of a cricket’s highly sensitive airflow receptor (consisting of two cerci).

Design/methodology/approach

A metal core was positioned at the center of an MPMF and surrounded by a hollow piezoceramic cylinder. Four thin metal films were spray-coated symmetrically on the surface of the fiber that could be used as two pairs of sensor electrodes.

Findings

In 3D space, four output signals of the two MPMFs arrays can form three “8”-shaped spheres. Similarly, the sensing signals for the same airflow are located on a spherical surface.

Originality/value

Two MPMF arrays are sufficient to detect the speed and direction of airflow in all three dimensions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51275447).

Citation

Bian, Y., He, C., Sun, K., Dai, L., Shen, H., Jin, H. and Gong, J. (2017), "A biomimetic 3D airflow sensor made of an array of two piezoelectric metal-core fibers", Sensor Review, Vol. 37 No. 3, pp. 312-321. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-12-2016-0278

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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