Mimicking How the Fly Hears: a New Approach Towards Sound Source Localization

该奖项的研究目的是加深对苍蝇超急性耳的双重最优化特性的基本了解，并利用这一理解开发具有最佳性能和调谐能力的新型苍耳传感器系统。建议的方法总结如下。首先，研究了传感器结构的几何非线性的有利应用，该结构的刚度将由薄膜压电致动器控制。这种方法将使传感器具有独特的频率调谐能力，以在较宽的频率范围内实现最佳性能。此外，还将开发一种以差分低相干干涉系统为特色的单片系统光学检测系统，这将使整个传感系统实现小型化。最后，为了更好地利用所提出的传感器，将研究生物启发的自适应声源定位和导航。这样的研究有望帮助理解苍蝇独特的定位-侧化方案，并带来一种新的微型机器人声源定位的传感范例。如果成功，这项研究有望对医疗保健、安全和国防应用产生重大影响。学生的学习经验将通过跨学科课程中的创新项目和关于生物启发传感器的新课程来丰富。通过其综合教育和推广活动，这项研究将为有才华的高中生提供机会，他们将参与马里兰大学的研究活动，以激发他们对科学和工程的兴趣。此外，通过科学和工程少数民族中心和工程妇女方案开展的教育活动将有助于增加少数民族本科生对工程学的参与。

The research objective of this award is to further the fundamental understanding of the dual optimality characteristic of the super acute ear of the fly Ormia, and to use this understanding to develop novel fly-ear inspired sensor systems with optimal performance and tuning capabilities. The proposed approach is summarized as follows. First, the advantageous use of geometric nonlinearity of the sensor structure whose stiffness will be controlled by thin film piezo-electric actuators will be investigated. This approach will render sensors with unique frequency tuning capabilities for achieving optimal performance over a broad frequency range. Further, a system-on-a-chip optical detection system featuring a differential low coherence interferometric system will be developed, which enables the miniaturization of the entire sensing system. Finally, to best use the proposed sensor, biologically-inspired adaptive sound source localization and navigation will be investigated. Such an investigation is expected to help understand the fly's unique localization-lateralization scheme and bring about a new sensing paradigm for miniature robotic sound source localization.If successful, this research holds a promise to significantly impact applications in health care, safety, and defense. The learning experience of students will be enriched with innovative projects in an interdisciplinary curriculum and a new course on bio-inspired sensors. Through its integrated education and outreach activities, this research will provide opportunities to talented high school students, who will be involved in research activities at the University of Maryland to stimulate their interests in science and engineering. In addition, educational activities through the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering and the Women in Engineering Program will help increase the involvement of minority undergraduate students in engineering.