JELLYFISH-INSPIRED TILT SENSOR AND ARTIFICIAL MESOGLEA

• US 20140187681A1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
• Inventors: Priya, Shashank, SMITH, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 9,146,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 2009/068 resistive
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 2009/107 spheres
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/10 by using rolling bodies , e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets

Abstract

Components of an unmanned undersea vehicle are inspired by jellyfish that uses its flexible body and tilt sensing to achieve efficient swimming and turning. A tilt sensor, based on a statocyst, has a metal ball in a chamber lined with resistors. The tilt is sensed in accordance with which resistors the ball contacts. A composition of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel with ferritin particles dispersed therein mimics the qualities of a jellyfish'"'"'s mesoglea.

Claims

1. A tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle, the tilt sensor comprising:

a support defining a cavity;

a plurality of electrical elements surrounding the cavity; and

a conductive object disposed in the cavity so as to move within the cavity in accordance with the tilt angle to change an electrical property of the tilt sensor to allow sensing of the tilt angle.

2. The tilt sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive object is in electrical contact with at least two of the electrical elements to form an electrical connection between the at least two of the electrical elements, and wherein the electrical property comprises the electrical connection.

3. The tilt sensor of claim 2, wherein the electrical elements comprise resistors, capacitors or resonators.

4. The tilt sensor of claim 3, wherein the electrical elements further comprise a base plate, and wherein the electrical connection is between the base plate and at least one of the electrical elements such as resistors.

5. The tilt sensor of claim 3, wherein the resistors are connected in series, and wherein an electrical output of the tilt sensor increases linearly with the tilt angle.

6. The tilt sensor of claim 1, wherein the cavity is circular in two-dimensions or a geometrical chamber such as cube or sphere in three-dimensions.

7. A method for sensing a tilt angle, the method comprising:

(a) providing a tilt sensor comprising a support defining a cavity, a plurality of electrical elements surrounding the cavity, and a conductive object disposed in the cavity so as to move within the cavity in accordance with the tilt angle to change an electrical property of the tilt sensor to allow sensing of the tilt angle;

(b) receiving an electrical output from the tilt sensor, the electrical output representing the electrical property; and

(c) determining the tilt angle from the electrical output.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the conductive object is in electrical contact with at least two of the electrical elements to form an electrical connection between the at least two of the electrical elements, and wherein the electrical property comprises the electrical connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrical elements comprise resistors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical elements further comprise a base plate, and wherein the electrical connection is between the base plate and at least one of the resistors.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the resistors are connected in series, and wherein the electrical output increases linearly with the tilt angle.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the cavity is circular.

13. An artificial mesoglea comprising:

a gel; and

a nanofiller dispersed in the gel.

14. The artificial mesoglea of claim 13, wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.

15. The artificial mesoglea of claim 14, wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

16. The artificial mesoglea of claim 13, wherein the nanofiller comprises nanofiller composite particles.

17. The artificial mesoglea of claim 16, wherein the nanofiller composite particles comprise ferritin particles.

18. A method of making an artificial mesoglea, the method comprising:

(a) preparing a gel; and

(b) dispersing a nanofiller in the gel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the nanofiller comprises nanofiller composite particles.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the nanofiller composite particles comprise ferritin particles.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein step (b) comprises:

(i) mixing the nanfiller with water to form a mixture; and

(ii) using the mixture in place of water in step (a).