Kagawa University

Hidekuni Takao

Fusao Shimokawa

Tsuyoshi Kobayashi

Ikuo Kataoka

Kyohei Terao

Takaaki Suzuki

Akihito Ono

Hiroki Ishizuka

Kyosuke Nakada

Hidenori Yoshimura

A tactile sensor includes a base portion, a displacement portion, a displacement portion support body that supports the displacement portion in a displaceable manner in a first direction with respect to the base portion, a hair in a straight line arranged along a second direction, a hair fixing portion to which a base end of the hair is fixed, a hair fixing portion support body that turnably supports the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the displacement portion with respect to the base portion, and a turn detector that detects a turn of the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion. The sensations specific to the hairy skin, such as perception of a liquid surface and static electricity, can be detected from a shearing force and a moment acting on the hair.

Tactile sensor to quantify hairy skin sensation

To provide a vascular sap measurement sensor in which a flow channel that receives incoming flow of vascular sap is unlikely to be blocked by tissues of a plant. A vascular sap measurement sensorincludes: a trapping probefor trapping vascular sap; and a supportthat supports the trapping probe. A trapping flow channelthat receives incoming flow of the vascular sap is formed in the trapping probe. The trapping flow channelhas an inlet openingformed on a side surface of the trapping probe. This makes it unlikely that the trapping flow channelwill be blocked by tissues of a plant when sticking the trapping probeinto the plant.

Vascular sap measurement sensor and method of manufacturing vascular sap measurement sensor

To provide a vascular sap flow speed sensor having a size allowing measurement of the flow speed of vascular sap in a part of a plant such as a stem and capable of being manufactured at low cost. A vascular sap flow speed sensorincludes a heater sensor HS and a reference sensor RS. The heater sensor HS includes: a first probe unitincluding a heat transfer plateand a probe; a heater; a first temperature sensor; and a first housingin which the heat transfer plate, the heater, and the first temperature sensorare housed. The reference sensor RS includes: a second probe unitincluding a heat transfer plateand a probe; a second temperature sensor; and a second housingin which the heat transfer plateand the second temperature sensorare housed. Each of the first probe unitand the second probe unitis made of a metallic material.

Vascular sap flow speed sensor and method of manufacturing vascular sap flow speed sensor

To provide a tactile sensor that allows a contact to be displaced largely and can detect fine ruggedness, flexibility, and other features of a surface of a measuring object. A sensor part S includes a framethat includes a side part of a substrate B, a contactthat is disposed in parallel to the substrate B so that a tip of the contactprojects from a side face of the substrate B, a suspensionthat supports the contactto the frame, and displacement detectorsandeach of which detects displacement of the contact. The side face of the substrate B functions as a sensing surface. The contactcoming in contact with a measuring object O is displaced on a level parallel to the substrate B. Since the sensor part S can be configured widely in a planar manner along the substrate B, the structure has higher flexibility of design. As a result, the sensor part S allows the contactto be displaced largely, and can detect fine ruggedness, flexibility and other features of the surface of the measuring object O.

Tactile sensor and method for evaluating touch feeling

A plant water dynamics sensor usable for measuring the dynamics of water flowing in a fine point of a plant such as a distal end of a new branch or a pedicel comprises a heater-equipped temperature probe including a temperature sensor and a heater; a temperature probe including a temperature sensor; an electrical resistance probe including an electrical resistance measurement electrode; and a support that supports the probes while the probes are aligned parallel to each other. The position of a xylem XY can be detected based on an electrical resistance measured at the electrical resistance probe, so that each of the temperature sensors can be arranged correctly in a position at a phloem PH or at the xylem XY. This facilitates attachment of a plant water dynamics sensor and water dynamics in a plant can be measured with high accuracy.

Growing community of inventors

Kagawa, Japan

Hidekuni Takao