Morphological study of insect Mechanoreceptors to develop Artificial Bio-inspired mechanosensors

Mechanoreceptors of the insects plays a vital role in insects to sense and monitor the Environmental parameters like flow, tactile pressure, etc. In this paper, we studied the morphology of the mechanoreceptor of the insect Blattella Asahinai (Scientific name of Coachroach), which are a hair-like structure known as Trichoid sensilla, under the Scanning electron microscope and Confocal laser microscope. The scanning images showed the detail sensilla component’s, in which hair is embedded in the socket which is connected with the cuticle and joint membrane, the dendrite touches at the base of the hair and passing through the cuticle layers. Images also showed that the tubular bodies and microtubules are tightly compacted inside the dendrite. This paper also presents how the sensilla works when the external stimulus occurs on it. The hair deflects with the disturbance of the cuticle and joint membrane and this deformed hair lean on the dendrite which is attached at the base of this hair which in turn presses the tubular bodies and microtubules which develops negative ions passes down through this dendrite to the neuron which provides the information as an electric signal to the brain of an insect so that it takes necessary action. These morphological studies, sensing mechanism techniques, material properties of the components. design principles are considered for the development of the artificial bio-inspired sensors. The model of the artificial bioinspired mechanosensor is presented.