Title:  Bio-Inspired Approaches for Rotational Inertial Sensing

Committee: 

Dr. Brand, Advisor       

Dr. Sariouglu, Chair

Dr. Bakir

Abstract:

The objective of this research is to explore the natural design of the semicircular canals as a platform for rotational inertial sensing for various applications. In particular, the main application of these sensors is sensory substitution in vestibular prostheses for patients with bilateral vestibular loss. This will be achieved by integration of various technologies (microfluidic torus), fabrication process improvements (wafer-level liquid encapsulation), and developing low-power, and shock resistant transduction mechanisms (magnetic artificial haircells). With mammalian inertial sensors in mind, the sensor's target specifications include power consumption on the order of 100uW, a dynamic range of 0-10,000deg/s^2, a frequency bandwidth of 20Hz, low cross-axis sensitivity,  fitting well within a human implantation footprint,  and a low limit of detection of 1-2deg/s^2.