Biomimetic Flow Sensing Using Artificial Lateral Lines

Abstract

By mimicking fish lateral lines and fish sensing behaviors, we constructed an artificial lateral line and employed it for biomimetic flow sensing. Thirteen hot-film anemometers were mounted to the surface of a NACA0015 airfoil to constitute the artificial lateral line. The resulting fish-like platform was maneuvered by a 3-degree-of-freedom robotic arm for two-dimensional mobility in aquatic environments. Assisted with specially developed algorithms, two biologically relevant flow-sensing scenarios have been realized. They were tracking a nearby dipole source in still water by detecting the dipole flow field and tracking a distant stationary source in running water by detecting its hydrodynamic wake.