PA - Development of a Bio-Inspired Whisker Sensor for Marine application

Entwicklung eines bio-inspirierten Whisker-Sensors zur Erkennung der Wasserströmung im Ozean für autonome Drifter-Anwendungen

Development of a Bio-Inspired Whisker Sensor for Ocean Water Flow Detection in Autonomous Drifter Applications

Project Description:

This project focuses on designing and developing a bio-inspired whisker sensor capable of detecting the direction and speed of water flow in the ocean. The sensor will be part of an Autonomous Multi-Sensor Drifter, an advanced platform used for environmental monitoring and data collection in aquatic environments. Inspired by natural whiskers in marine mammals, this sensor aims to accurately sense underwater flow dynamics and contribute to autonomous navigation and environmental data acquisition. Upon successful sensor fabrication, experimental testing will be conducted in collaboration with the Institute of River and Coastal Engineering, utilizing the open channel experimental flumes in a controlled, simulated environment.

Tasks and Duties:

• Conduct a literature review to explore possible solutions and design bio-inspired whisker sensors optimized for detecting underwater flow.

• Develop sensor prototypes.

• Perform sensor characterization (e.g., sensitivity, linearity).

• Develop a readout strategy and signal processing platform to detect water flow direction using a sensor array.

• Conduct laboratory and/or field tests to evaluate sensor performance under various flow conditions.

• Document findings and prepare a report on sensor performance and design recommendations.

Requirements:

• Background in electrical, or mechatronics engineering

• Experience with sensor readout recommended

• Basic Programming skills (Arduino, MATLAB)

• Knowledge of signal processing and data analysis recommended.

Contact Person:

Mohammad Sadeghi (mohammad.sadeghi@tuhh.de) & Finn Jannek Klar (finn.klar@tuhh.de)

 Desired starting date: As Soon As possible

Zeitplanung:

Checklist

• Introduction / tour in M4

• Urheberrechtsvereinbarung signed: https://www.tuhh.de/t3resources/sls/pdf/ZPA/Formulare_oeffentlich/Rechte_an_Abschlussarbeiten.pdf

• if applicable: signed confidential agreement

• official registration

Helpful links:

• Thesis Work / Studentische Arbeiten 

• Criteria for the evaluation of Bachelor's and Master's theses, handout version

• Laborordnung

• Spotlights / Kurzvorträge

• Templates (Latex, ppt etc.)

Document Upload Final Thesis / Dokumentenabgabe Abschlussdokument

File of final presentation / Dokumentenabgabe Abschlusspräsentation

Link for further files / Link für weitere Dokumente