Engineering of biomimetic hair-flow sensor arrays dedicated to high-resolution flow field measurements

Abstract

This paper addresses the latest developments in biomimetic hair-flow sensors towards sensitive high-density arrays. Improving the electrodes design of the hair sensor, using Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) wafer technology, has resulted in the ability to measure small capacitance changes as caused by minute rotations of single-hair sensors. The detection limit, as measured in a bandwidth of 3 kHz, was about 1 mm/s air-flow amplitude, an enhancement of 52% in comparison to the previous hair-sensor array design. The directivity pattern was improved now closely resembling a figure of eight. These sensors open possibilities for high-resolution flow pattern observations.