A miniature bio-inspired optic flow sensor based on low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology

Abstract Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology is classically used in the field of radio frequencies to make items such as miniature transceivers for handheld devices. Here we harness the LTCC technology to autonomous micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs), a field in which small size and low mass are at a premium. Designing autonomous MAVs will be a highly challenging issue during the next few decades. Bio-inspired optic flow sensors, also known as elementary motion detector (EMD) circuits, have proved to be efficient means of providing animals and robots with visual guidance ability. The LTCC technology gives a good trade-off between the need for reliable optic flow sensors and the need for small-sized multiple electronic components. Comparisons with other technologies (PCB, analogue VLSI) show that LTCC technology is one of the most reliable solutions to the problem of obtaining reliable electronic EMDs that are small enough (area 7 mm × 7 mm) and light enough (mass 0.2 g) to be accommodated on-board a MAV. The output from our LTCC based optic flow sensors is largely invariant with respect to both contrast and spatial frequency.

[1]  Nicolas H. Franceschini,et al.  Optic flow regulation: the key to aircraft automatic guidance , 2005, Robotics Auton. Syst..

[2]  Stéphane Viollet,et al.  Visual control of two aerial micro-robots by insect-based autopilots , 2004, Adv. Robotics.

[3]  Christof Koch,et al.  A Robust Analog VLSI Motion Sensor Based on the Visual System of the Fly , 1999, Auton. Robots.

[4]  Christopher E. Neely,et al.  Mixed-mode VLSI optic flow sensors for in-flight control of a micro air vehicle , 2000, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[5]  N. Franceschini,et al.  Obstacle avoidance in a terrestrial mobile robot provided with a scanning retina , 1996, Proceedings of Conference on Intelligent Vehicles.

[6]  N. Franceschini,et al.  Etude optique in vivo des éléments photorécepteurs dans l'œil composé de Drosophila , 2004, Kybernetik.

[7]  Stéphane Viollet,et al.  Visual servo system based on a biologically inspired scanning sensor , 1999, Optics East.

[8]  Nicolas Franceschini,et al.  Visual Guidance Of A Mobile Robot Equipped With A Network Of Self-Motion Sensors , 1990, Other Conferences.

[9]  N. Franceschini,et al.  From insect vision to robot vision , 1992 .

[10]  Rahul Sarpeshkar,et al.  Pulse-Based Analog VLSI Velocity Sensors , 1997 .

[11]  R. Shapley,et al.  Photoreception and Vision in Invertebrates , 1984, NATO ASI Series.

[12]  Stéphane Viollet,et al.  Bio-inspired optical flow circuits for the visual guidance of micro air vehicles , 2003, Proceedings of the 2003 International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, 2003. ISCAS '03..

[13]  Derek Abbott,et al.  An insect vision-based motion detection chip , 1997, IEEE J. Solid State Circuits.

[14]  Madhavan Swaminathan,et al.  Characterization of embedded passives using macromodels in LTCC technology , 1998 .

[15]  N. Franceschini,et al.  Early processing of colour and motion in a mosaic visual system. , 1985, Neuroscience research. Supplement : the official journal of the Japan Neuroscience Society.

[16]  S. Leppävuori,et al.  Roller-type gravure offset printing of conductive inks for high-resolution printing on ceramic substrates , 2005 .

[17]  H. Nalbach,et al.  Visual stabilization in arthropods. , 1993, Reviews of oculomotor research.

[18]  J. Barrett,et al.  Characterisation of the electrical performance of buried capacitors and resistors in low temperature co-fired (LTCC) ceramic , 1998, 1998 Proceedings. 48th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (Cat. No.98CH36206).

[19]  Giacomo Indiveri,et al.  Analog VLSI architectures for motion processing: from fundamental limits to system applications , 1996, Proc. IEEE.

[20]  Chul Soon Park,et al.  A novel high-Q LTCC stripline resonator for millimeter-wave applications , 2003 .

[21]  K. Hausen.  The Lobula-Complex of the Fly: Structure, Function and Significance in Visual Behaviour , 1984 .

[22]  F. A. Miles,et al.  Visual Motion and Its Role in the Stabilization of Gaze , 1992 .

[23]  John Barton,et al.  Characterization and performance prediction for integral capacitors in low temperature co-fired ceramic technology , 1999 .

[24]  Thomas Netter,et al.  A robotic aircraft that follows terrain using a neuromorphic eye , 2002, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

[25]  Heli Jantunen,et al.  A NOVEL LOW TEMPERATURE CO- FIRING CERAMIC (LTCC) MATERIAL FOR TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES , 2001 .

[26]  J. Nicolics,et al.  Laser soldering of surface-mounted devices for high-reliability applications , 1993, Journal of Materials Science.