Overview
Our work centers on biologically inspired sensing. We develop and apply
microscale and nanoscale fabrication techniques to building sensors that are
inspired by nature. Examples include:
Bioinspired sensing should be conducted at multiple levels (molecular, cellular, tissue, and organism). Features should be understood and implemented in engineering. Benefits of bioinspired sensing should be verified. Through bioinspired sensing research, we also strive to gain deeper understanding of the biological system themselves by providing new hypothesis-validation tools and by injecting new questions.
We are developing these bioinspired sensors (flow, touch, etc) and other related technologies (energy harvesting, wireless sensor network) for medical and health related applications, by forging collaboration with medical researchers. Below is a list of various components of our work.
Fundamental Research
Enabling Devices
Medical and Health Applications
Fundamental Research
Biologically Inspired Sensors and Sensing
Our group is developing artificial haircell sensors that mimic the haircell sensor, widely found in many animals and perform a large variety of functions. The biological haircell, a common neuronal mechanoreceptor, is responsible for a wide variety of sensing in different animal species. Haircells are responsible for hearing (human cochlea), flow sensing (insects, spiders, and fish), vibration sensing (insects), equilibrium sensing (human inner ear), and joint angle sensing (insect), to name a few examples. Since 1998, our group has been developing artificial haircell sensors as modular building blocks of sensors for flow, vibration, touch, and acoustic vibration. Further, we are interested in building arrays of networked sensors, including artificial lateral line that mimics the lateral line sensor organ of fish and amphibian animals. We also develop robotics systems based on the new sensors. For example, artificial lateral lines and multimodal tactile sensors are being used to enable sensor-rich robotics systems that can survived in unstructured environment.
 |
Bio Inspired Sensors |
|
|
Nanocomposite Elastomers and Devices
Nanocomposite elastomers are rubbers doped with functional nano materials (such as carbon blacks and carbon nanotubes). These materials have unique electro-chemical properties as well as mechanical characteristics. Our group has investigated the performance of these materials, developed novel methods of fabrication, and realized novel stretchable devices (such as stretchable tactile sensors).
Artificial Lateral Line
Fish and amphibian animals use the lateral line system for sensing flow field around their bodies. The lateral line allow them to detect nearby flow patterns with low frequency. We are building artificial lateral line system for applications related to underwater vehicles.
Nano fabrication
 |
Nanofabrication and Nanotechnology |
|
|
Enabling Devices
We have strong background and interest in flow sensors, multimodal flow sensing skin (speed, pressure, and shear stress), multimodal tactile sensing skin, soft/stretchable soft sensing skin.
Medical and Health Applications
We are interested in a wide variety of applications in medicine and health,
including (but not limited to):
1. biodetection for disease biomarkers
2. microfluidics and automated sample processing
3. sensor networks for patient care
4. technology for improving quality and efficiency of patient care
5. technology for improving the efficiency of surgery and minimize wounds
6. medical education
Artificial haircell sensors - a modular building block for sensors