公开(公告)号：US11060214B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-13

申请号：US16102364

申请日：2018-08-13

Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Inventor： David W. Collinson ,  Mitra J. Hartmann ,  L. Catherine Brinson

IPC: B29C55/04 ,  D02J1/22 ,  B29C55/00 ,  D01D10/04 ,  G01L1/04 ,  G01L5/169

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.

公开(公告)号：US20190048495A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-14

申请号：US16102364

申请日：2018-08-13

Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Inventor： David W. Collinson ,  Mitra J. Hartmann ,  L. Catherine Brinson

IPC: D02J1/22 ,  B29C55/00 ,  D01D10/04 ,  G01L1/04 ,  G01L5/16

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.