A flexible spiking hair sensillum for ultralow power density noncontact perception

Abstract

The ability to recognize targets before physical contact is crucial for organisms' adaptability to real-world environments. However, current noncontact sensing systems face challenges in power density and biological fidelity. Here, we report a flexible spiking hair sensillum (FISH) with an ultralow power density < 100 nanowatts per square millimeter for achieving noncontact tactile perception (NCTP). This device can transduce proximity or airflow into spike trains with a frequency range of ~500 to 1500 hertz. A spiking NCTP system is developed, achieving high accuracy (>92%) in multidimensional recognition of noncontact targets, mediated by airflow. Furthermore, we show that a spider robot equipped with a FISH matrix outperforms one relying exclusively on machine vision in tasks of predation and evasion, demonstrating high adaptability to complex environments. Our design enriches the perceptual modalities for neuromorphic systems, offering great potential for advancing future robotics and autonomous vehicles.