• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.188-192
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• 2012

In this study, a carbon nanotube (CNT) flexible strain sensor was fabricated with CNT based epoxy and rubber composites for tactile sensing. The flexible strain sensor can be fabricated as a long fibrous sensor and it also may be able to measure large deformation and contact information on a structure. The long and flexible sensor can be considered to be a continuous sensor like a dendrite of a neuron in the human body and we named the sensor as a biomimetic artificial neuron. For the application of the neuron in biomimetic engineering, an ANMS (Artificial Neuron Matrix System) was developed by means of the array of the neurons with a signal processing system. Moreover, a strain positioning algorithm was also developed to find localized tactile information of the ANMS with Labview for the application of an artificial e-skin.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2015

In conventional robotics, charge-coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) cameras have been utilized for acquiring vision information. These devices have problems, such as narrow optic angles and inefficiencies in visual information processing. Recently, biomimetic vision sensors for robotic applications have been receiving much attention. These sensors are more efficient than conventional vision sensors in terms of the optic angle, power consumption, dynamic range, and redundancy suppression. This paper presents recent research trends on biomimetic vision sensors and discusses future directions.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2009

Rodents, specially rats, can recognize distance and shape of an object and also pattern of the textures by using their whiskers. Mechanoreceptors surrounding the root of whisker in their follicle measure deflection of the whisker. Rats can move their whisker back and forth freely. This ability, called active whisking or active sensing, is one of characteristics of rat behaviours. Many researches based on the mechanism have been progressed. In this paper, we test a simple and accurate method based on deflection of the whisker: we designed biomimetic whiskers modeling after a structure of follicle using the microphone. The microphone sensor measures a mechanical vibration. Attaching an artificial whisker beam to the microphone membrane, we can detect a vibration of whisker and this can show the deflection amount of whisker indirectly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.493-494
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• 2012

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.73-76
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• 2007

Electro-Active paper (EAPap) is a new smart material that has a potential to be used in biomimetic actuator and sensor. It is made by cellulose that is abundant material in nature. EAPap is fascinating with its biodegradability, lightweight, large displacement, high mechanical strength and low actuation voltage. Actuating mechanism of EAPap is known to be the combined effects of ion migration and piezoelectricity. However, the electromechanical actuation mechanisms are not yet to be established. This paper presents the modeling of the actuation behavior of water infused cellulose samples and their composite dielectric constants calculated by Maxwell-Wagner theory. Electro-mechanical forces were calculated using Maxwell stress tensor method. Bending deflection was evaluated from simple beam model and compared with experimental observation, which result good correlation with each other.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1179-1183
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• 2007

Electro-Active paper(EAPap) is a new smart material that has a potential to be used in biomimetic actuator and sensor. It is made by cellulose that is abundant material in nature. EAPap is fascinating with its biodegradability, lightweight, large displacement, high mechanical strength and low actuation voltage. Actuating mechanism of EAPap is known to be the combined effects of ion migration and piezoelectricity. However, the electromechanical actuation mechanisms are not yet to be established. This paper presents the modeling of the actuation behavior of water infused cellulose samples and their composite dielectric constants calculated by Maxwell-Wagner theory. Electro-mechanical forces were calculated using Maxwell stress tensor method. Bending deflection was evaluated from simple beam model and compared with experimental observation, and which result in good correlation with each other.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.345-351
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• 2012

Biomimetic terpene sensors which have high sensitivity and stability have been fabricated using moleculary imprinted polymer (MIP) technology. Since it is impossible to make a resistive type sensor due to the high resistance of MIP, we improved the sensor by adding conductive polymers. We investigated the sensitivity of resistive type sensors with nano particles depending on the amount of conductive polymers. The MIP membrane contained the methacrylic acid as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross linker, which formed specific cavities originated by the target terpene molecules. The mixture of MIP and the conductive polymer was coated on the patterns of interdigit electrodes on the alumina substrate. The fabricated sensors showed their highest specific sensitivities exposed to 500 ppm target gases : limonene 0.055 at 40% of amount of conductive polymers and geraniol $5.84{\times}10^{-4}$ at 20% of amount of conductive polymers. In conclusion, we found that the terpene sensors are affected by the target molecules, functional monomers and the conductive polymers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.90.1-90.1
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• 2013

Nature utilizes various of the colorization process. Some species of birds can express their mood of tempers by changing their collagen structures on skin. For example, turkey can change their skin color by expansion of the collagen structures, which are associated with the distinct color changes. Here, we developed bioinspired virus-based colorimetric sensors which can be genetically tuned for target molecule. Using M 13 bacteriophage, we fabricated responsive self-assembled color matrices composed of quasi-ordered fiber bundle structures. These virus matrices can exhibit color change by stimuli through fiber bundle structure modulation. Upon exposure of volatile organic compounds, the resulting multi-colored matrices exhibited distinct color changes with different ratios that can be recognized by the naked eyes. Using the directed evolutionary approaches, we genetically engineered the virus matrix to incorporate binding motif for explosive detection (i.e., trinitrotoluene (TNT)). Through utilizing a common handheld device (i.e., iPhone), we could distinguish TNT molecules down to 20 ppb in a selective manner. Our novel biomimetic virus colorimetric sensor can overcome current limitation for low response selectivity.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Rodents can recognize objects by using their whiskers. Not only rodents but also mammals use their whiskers to recognize objects. However, rodents can discriminate surface roughness in micrometer resolution throughout their whisker sensing. Rats can distinguish an target object's shape, roughness and surface pattern by moving their whisker back and forth freely. Mechanoreceptors surrounding the whisker in their follicle measure deflection and vibration of the whisker. In this paper, we designed biomimetic whiskers modeling rodent whiskers and showed the characteristic properties to extract the information of surface roughness.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1497-1502
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• 2012

To manufacture a robot hand that essentially mimics the functions of a human hand, it is necessary to develop flexible actuators and sensors. In this study, we propose the design, manufacture, and performance verification of flexible actuators and sensors based on Electro Active Polymer (EAP). EAP is fabricated as a type of film, and it moves with changes in the voltage because of contraction and expansion in the polymer film. Furthermore, if a force is applied to an EAP film, its thickness and effective area change, and therefore, the capacitance also changes. By using this mechanism, we produce capacitive actuators and sensors. In this study, we propose an EAP-based capacitive sensor and evaluate its use as a robot hand sensor.