Sunday, April 23, 2023

Creation of Bionic Finger for Non-Destructive 3D Imaging of Objects

About Topic In Short:

Who:

Wuyi University, China, lead author Jianyi Luo and co-author Zhiming Chen.

What:

Creation of a bionic finger that can generate 3D internal maps of objects by touching their surface.

How:

The bionic finger works by scanning the object, applying pressure across it, compressing carbon fibers with each hit, and transmitting the information to a personal computer to display a 3D map.

Introduction:

The recent development of a bionic finger capable of generating 3D images of internal objects by touching their outer surface has created a new avenue for non-destructive testing of human bodies and flexible electronics. This article aims to explain the process of creating this bionic finger and its potential applications in various fields.

Development of Bionic Finger:

The development of the bionic finger was carried out by a team of researchers at Wuyi University, China. The inspiration for the bionic finger came from the sensitivity of human fingers, which have the most sensitive tactile perception known to us. The researchers wanted to create an artificial sensor that could go beyond recognizing and discriminating between external shapes, surface textures, and hardness.

The bionic finger works by scanning the object's surface and applying pressure across it. Carbon fibers in the finger are compressed with each hit, providing information about the object's relative stiffness or softness. This information is transmitted to a personal computer and displayed on the screen as a 3D map. The bionic finger can discriminate not only between external shapes and surface textures but also between the relative stiffness or softness of the object and its location inside.

Testing and Application:

The researchers tested the bionic finger's ability to map the internal and external features of complex objects made of multiple types of materials, as well as detect and image simulated human tissue. They also explored the bionic finger's ability to diagnose problems in electronic devices without opening them. By scanning the surface of a faulty electronic device with the bionic finger, the researchers were able to map its internal electrical components and pinpoint the location where the circuit was disconnected, as well as a misdrilled hole, without breaking the encapsulant layer.

Potential Applications:

The development of the bionic finger has potential applications in medicine and industry. In medicine, the bionic finger could be used for non-destructive testing of the human body and obtaining 3D images of internal organs and structures without using harmful radiation. In industry, the bionic finger could be used to diagnose problems in electronic devices without opening them, reducing production costs and increasing efficiency.

Thus Speak Authors/Experts:

According to lead author Jianyi Luo, a professor at Wuyi University, the bionic finger's ability to obtain 3D images of internal objects by touching their surface goes beyond previous artificial sensors' capabilities. Co-author Zhiming Chen, also a professor at Wuyi University, states that the bionic finger's tactile technology opens a non-optical avenue for non-destructive testing of the human body and flexible electronics.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the development of the bionic finger has opened new possibilities for non-destructive testing in medicine and industry. With its ability to generate 3D internal maps of objects by touching their surface, the bionic finger has potential applications in various fields, from obtaining 3D images of internal organs to diagnosing problems in electronic devices.