Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Engineering
Faculty Mentor
Mariusz Jankowski, PhD
Keywords
MEMS, acoustics, Ormia ochracea
Abstract
The Ormia ochracea, a species of parasitic fly, has become the focal point in sound localization research because of its finely tuned hearing abilities. The female of this species uses its super highly directional hearing to pinpoint the call of a host cricket, with hypersensitivity of frequency and phase difference, to reach and dispose of its eggs on the host. The goal of this study was to further the research of a previous Project in Professor Guvench’s group which implemented MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) technology on a chip to replicate these abilities. In this iteration, however, some commercially available large piezo-electric guitar microphones were shaped to implement and test an upscaled version of the previous designs. Because MEMS are costly and fragile, this project required us to build and test a more affordable and durable representation of the Ochracea’s hearing and make highly directional microphones and create a test platform for directional response. The upscaled designs have been tested using a sound treated container, shaped as a cube, to reduce ambient noise and interference, as well as reduce reflection of the acoustic waves. Testing was performed with a frequency sweep to test frequency selectivity, with the sound source at different angles of incidence to the microphone. This characterizes its directional sensitivity.
Open Access?
1
Included in
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Biology Commons, Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons, Electrical and Electronics Commons, Entomology Commons
Design, Simulation and Testing of Biomimetic Directional Acoustic Sensors
The Ormia ochracea, a species of parasitic fly, has become the focal point in sound localization research because of its finely tuned hearing abilities. The female of this species uses its super highly directional hearing to pinpoint the call of a host cricket, with hypersensitivity of frequency and phase difference, to reach and dispose of its eggs on the host. The goal of this study was to further the research of a previous Project in Professor Guvench’s group which implemented MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) technology on a chip to replicate these abilities. In this iteration, however, some commercially available large piezo-electric guitar microphones were shaped to implement and test an upscaled version of the previous designs. Because MEMS are costly and fragile, this project required us to build and test a more affordable and durable representation of the Ochracea’s hearing and make highly directional microphones and create a test platform for directional response. The upscaled designs have been tested using a sound treated container, shaped as a cube, to reduce ambient noise and interference, as well as reduce reflection of the acoustic waves. Testing was performed with a frequency sweep to test frequency selectivity, with the sound source at different angles of incidence to the microphone. This characterizes its directional sensitivity.
