Halteres for the Microinechaiiical Flyiiig Iiisect

MFI. On the other hand, piezoelectric vibrating strucThe mech.anism wh,ich real flying insects use to detect body rotation has been simulated. The results show that an angular rate sensor can be made based on such a biological mechanism. Two types of biomimetic gyroscopes have been constructed usin.9 foils of staidess steel. Th,e first device is conn,ected directly to a compliant cantilever. The second device is placed on a mech,an.ically amplafying fou.rbar structure. Both devices are driven by piezoelectric actuators and detect the Coriolis' force using strain gages. The experimental results show successful measurements of angular velocities an,d th,ese devices h,ave the benefits of low power and high sensitivity.