Jellyfish-inspired tilt sensor and artificial mesoglea
First Claim
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1. A tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle, the tilt sensor comprising:
- a conductive base plate;
a plurality of electrical elements disposed along a peripheral edge of the base plate, the base plate and the plurality of electrical elements defining a cavity; and
a conductive object disposed in the cavity so as to move within the cavity in accordance with the tilt angle, make contact with the base plate and a surface of the plurality of electrical elements that is substantially orthogonal to the base plate, and form an electrical connection between the base plate and at least one of the plurality of electrical elements.
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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.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle, the tilt sensor comprising:
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a conductive base plate; a plurality of electrical elements disposed along a peripheral edge of the base plate, the base plate and the plurality of electrical elements defining a cavity; and a conductive object disposed in the cavity so as to move within the cavity in accordance with the tilt angle, make contact with the base plate and a surface of the plurality of electrical elements that is substantially orthogonal to the base plate, and form an electrical connection between the base plate and at least one of the plurality of electrical elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for sensing a tilt angle, the method comprising:
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providing a tilt sensor comprising a conductive base plate, a plurality of electrical elements disposed along a peripheral edge of the base plate, the base plate and the plurality of electrical elements defining a cavity, and a conductive object disposed in the cavity so as to move within the cavity in accordance with the tilt angle, make contact with the base plate and a surface of the plurality of electrical elements that is substantially orthogonal to the base plate, and form an electrical connection between the base plate and at least one of the plurality of electrical elements; supplying the tilt sensor with an electrical input; and receiving an electrical output indicative of the tilt angle from the tilt sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification