Collaborative Research: Fish-Inspired Ultra-Sensitive Infrasound Sensor for Critical Infrastructure Monitoring and Geo-Hazards Early Warning

本研究的目的是开发一种具有非线性自适应增益的超灵敏次声运动传感器，该传感器在探测滑坡等迫在眉睫的地质灾害事件的预警信号方面具有潜在的应用前景。这种次声传感器的传感原理是从某些鱼类的听觉系统在检测次声信号时的超灵敏中获得灵感。这种次声传感器的核心传感元件是基于微电子机械系统的人造毛细胞，它实现了生物毛细胞的主动放大和适应机制。传感器的设计将以对鱼在次声范围内的听觉灵敏度和选择性的定量建模和模拟所获得的见解为指导。通过这个跨学科的项目团队之间的协同努力，以及从FISH神经解剖和成像、非线性动力学建模到微电子设备制造和表征等多个学科之间的强烈互动，将实现对FISH如何在其听觉系统中感知和处理次声信号的基本了解。这一跨学科研究的成果将导致智能传感器、海洋生物声学和减轻地质灾害技术的新进展。

The objective of this research is to develop an ultra-sensitive infrasound motion sensor with nonlinear adaptive gain, which has potential applications in detecting early warning signals of imminent geo-hazardous events such as landslides. The sensing principle of this infrasound sensor gains inspiration from the ultra-sensitivity of the auditory system of certain fish species in detecting infrasound signals. The core sensing element of this infrasound sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical-system based artificial hair cell, which implements the active amplification and adaptation mechanisms of biological hair cells. Sensor design will be guided with insights made from quantitative modeling and simulation of a fish's hearing sensitivity and selectivity in infrasonic range. A fundamental understanding of how fish sense and process infrasound signals in its auditory system will be achieved through synergistic efforts among this cross-disciplinary project team and strong interactions between the multiple disciplines ranging from fish neuro-anatomy and imaging, nonlinear dynamics modeling, to microelectronics device fabrication and characterization. The outcome of this inter-disciplinary research will lead to new advancements in smart sensor, marine bio-acoustics and geo-hazard mitigation technologies.