Sensors and Sensing in Biology and Engineering

by Barth, Friedrich G.; Humphrey, Joseph A. C.; Secomb, Timothy W.

• ISBN13: 9783211837719
• ISBN10: 321183771X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Biological sensors are usually remarkably small, sensitive and efficient. It is highly desirable to design corresponding artificial sensors for scientific, industrial and commercial purposes.This book is designed to fill an urgent need for interdisciplinary exchange between biologists studying sensors in the natural world and engineers and physical scientists developing artificial sensors. Contributions from leading scientists in this area, whether engineers or biologists, are written to be accessible to readers from these and other disciplines. The main topics cover mechanical sensors, visual sensors and vision and chemosensors. Readers will obtain a fuller understanding of the nature and performance of natural sensors as well as enhanced appreciation for the current status and the potential applicability of artificial microsensors.Friedrich G. Barth was awarded the 'œKarl-Ritter-von-Frisch-Medaille' at the 2003 Annual Conference of the German Zoological Society in Halle, Germany.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	ix
Introductory Remarks
Sensors and Sensing: A Biologist's View	3	(14)
F.G. Barth
Sensors and Sensing: An Engineer's View	17	(20)
H. Meixner
Mechanical Sensors
A. Waves, Sound and Vibrations
How Nature Designs Ears	37	(12)
A. Michelsen
How to Build a Microphone	49	(10)
P. Rasmussen
The Middle and External Ears of Terrestrial Vertebrates as Mechanical and Acoustic Transducers	59	(12)
J.J. Rosowski
The Outer Hair Cell: A Mechanoelectrical and Electromechanical Sensor/Actuator	71	(26)
K.V. Snyder
F. Sachs
W.E. Brownell
The Silicon Cochlea	97	(12)
R. Sarpeshkar
Biologically-Inspired Microfabricated Force and Position Mechano-Sensors	109	(20)
P. Dario
C. Laschi
S. Micera
F. Vecchi
M. Zecca
A. Menciassi
B. Mazzolai
M.C. Carrozza
B. Force and Motion
The Physics of Arthropod Medium-Flow Sensitive Hairs: Biological Models for Artificial Sensors	129	(16)
J.A.C. Humphrey
F.G. Barth
M. Reed
A. Spak
Cricket Wind Receptors: Thermal Noise for the Highest Sensitivity Known	145	(14)
T. Shimozawa
J. Murakami
T. Kumagai
Arthropod Cuticular Hairs: Tactile Sensors and the Refinement of Stimulus Transformation	159	(14)
F.G. Barth
H.-E. Dechant
The Fish Lateral Line: How to Detect Hydrodynamic Stimuli	173	(14)
J. Mogdans
J. Engelmann
W. Hanke
S. Krother
The Blood Vasculature as an Adaptive System: Role of Mechanical Sensing	187	(10)
T.W. Secomb
A.R. Pries
Mechanism of Shear Stress-Induced Coronary Microvascular Dilation	197	(16)
L. Kuo
T.W. Hein
A Possible Mechanism for Sensing Crop Canopy Ventilation	213	(10)
T. Farquhar
J. Zhou
H.W. Haslach, Jr.
Visual Sensors and Vision
From Fly Vision to Robot Vision: Re-Construction as a Mode of Discovery	223	(14)
N. Franceschini
Locust's Looming Detectors for Robot Sensors	237	(14)
F.C. Rind
R.D. Santer
J.M. Blanchard
P.F.M.J. Verschure
Retina-Like Sensors: Motivations, Technology and Applications	251	(12)
G. Sandini
G. Metta
Computing in Cortical Columns: Information Processing in Visual Cortex	263	(12)
S.W. Zucker
Vision by Graph Pyramids	275	(16)
W.G. Kropatsch
Chemosensors and Chemosensing
Mechanisms for Gradient Following	291	(14)
D.B. Dusenbery
Representation of Odor Information in the Olfactory System: From Biology to an Artificial Nose	305	(18)
J.S. Kauer
J. White
The External Aerodynamics of Canine Olfaction	323	(14)
G.S. Settles
D.A. Kester
L.J. Dodson-Dreibelbis
Microcantilevers for Physical, Chemical, and Biological Sensing	337	(22)
T. Thundat
A. Majumdar
The Embedding of Sensors
Embedded Mechanical Sensors in Artificial and Biological Systems	359	(20)
P. Calvert
Active Dressware: Wearable Kinesthetic Systems	379	(14)
D. De Rossi
F. Lorussi
A. Mazzoldi
P. Orsini
E.P. Scilingo
Index	393