Biomimetic mechanosensors could keep drones on course

The sensors have been inspired by spiders, bats, birds and other animals whose senses are nerve endings linked to mechanoreceptors, which respond to mechanical stimuli.

The nerve endings – so-called mechanosensors – detect and process information essential to an animal’s survival and are comprised of hair, cilia or feathers.

“There is already an explosion of data that intelligent systems can collect – and this rate is increasing faster than what conventional computing would be able to process,” said Andres Arrieta, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, whose lab applies principles of nature to the design of structures. “Nature doesn’t have to collect every piece of data; it filters out what it needs.”

According to Purdue, biological mechanosensors filter data according to a threshold, such as changes in pressure or temperature. A spider’s mechanosensors are located on its legs. When its web vibrates at a frequency associated with prey or a mate, the mechanosensors detect it, generating a rapid reflex in the spider. The mechanosensors wouldn’t detect a lower frequency, such as that of dust on the web, because it’s unimportant to the spider’s survival.