Biomimetic Flow Sensor for Detecting Flow Rate and Direction as an Application for Maneuvering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

• Published in: International journal of precision engineering and manufacturing-green technology Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 163 - 173
• Main Authors: Tran, Le-Giang, Park, Woo-Tae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Angular resolution; Autonomous underwater vehicles; Biomimetics; Design; Efficiency; Fabrication; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Global positioning systems; GPS; Maneuvers; Pressure sensors; Sensors; Three dimensional printing; Underwater vehicles; Water flow
• ISSN: 2288-6206; 2198-0810
• DOI: 10.1007/s40684-020-00282-8

Attaining the information of the hydrodynamic flow rate and direction is essential to the maneuvering of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This work presents a pillar-based flow sensor that measures hydrodynamic flow rate and direction. We propose a design that mimic the working principle of the neuromast, a ubiquitous organ in fishes that sense the water flow. By utilizing advances in piezo-resistive pressure sensors and 3D printing technology, sensor fabrication becomes fast and cost-effective, owing to reductions in labor and material cost for small batches. Measured results showed that the sensor sensitivity was 9.24 mV/m/s in the single mode and 20.3 mV/m/s in the differential mode. The resolution of the flow sensor was measured to be 4.93 mm/s in the water tunnel testing. The angular resolution of the flow sensor was 2.25°.