Development of acoustic & airflow sensors inspired by the flat hair-like sensilla of Buthus Occitanus scorpion

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Martinelli, Samuele and Reid, Andrew and Windmill, James (2025) Development of acoustic & airflow sensors inspired by the flat hair-like sensilla of Buthus Occitanus scorpion. In: UK-FR PhD Annual Conference 2025, 2025-12-09 - 2025-12-10, DSTL Portsdown West.

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Abstract

Nature has always inspired humans in creating innovative tools. Arachnids and insects show exceptional and functional sensory receptors at a small scale. Air flow mechanoreceptors, commonly called trichobothria, are used in different shapes and sizes by several arachnid species [1]. Some trichobothria appear to be sensitive to low-frequency near-field acoustic signals [2]. Moreover, it is speculated that from this structure other sensing mechanisms (e.g., acceleration, temperature, etc.) are derived [3-5]. The goal of this work is to develop flat hair-like sensors inspired by the adult Buthus occitanus scorpion, that can react to either airflow or acoustic narrow frequency bands. A sensor that responds to airflow has been developed and realized using multi-material additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D-printing [6]. Furthermore, using the same production technique, it is possible to create sensor structures that react to sound [7].

ORCID iDs

Martinelli, Samuele ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8039-6663, Reid, Andrew ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-4640 and Windmill, James ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4878-349X;
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