Georgia State University (GSU) researchers have developed a ‘electric eye,‘ or artificial vision device, for micro-sized robots.
The technology mimics the biochemical mechanisms that allow for vision in the natural environment by using synthetic ways.
It advances prior research in colour recognition, which is a particularly tough area due to the difficulties of downscaling colour sensor devices. Traditional colour sensors take up a lot of room and aren’t very accurate when it comes to colour recognition.
This was achieved through a unique vertical stacking architecture that offers a novel approach to how the device is designed. Its van der Waals semi-conductor powers the sensors with precise colour recognition capabilities whilst simplifying the lens system for downscaling.
“The new functionality achieved in our image sensor architecture all depends on the rapid progress of van der Waals semiconductors during recent years,” said one of the researchers.
“Compared with conventional semiconductors, such as silicon, we can precisely control the van der Waals material band structure, thickness, and other critical parameters to sense the red, green, and blue colours.”
ACS Nano, a scientific journal on nanotechnology, published the research. The article itself focused on illustrating the fundamental principles and feasibility behind artificial vision in the new micro-sized image sensor.
Sidong Lei, assistant professor of Physics at GSU and the research lead, said: “More than 80% of information is captured by vision in research, industry, medication, and our daily life. The ultimate purpose of our research is to develop a micro-scale camera for microrobots that can enter narrow spaces that are intangible by current means, and open up new horizons in medical diagnosis, environmental study, manufacturing, archaeology, and more.”
The technology is currently patent pending with Georgia State’s Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation.
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