Mantis shrimp inspired scientists new breed of light sensors
The structure of the eyes of the mantis shrimp is considered the most unique among animals. Their eyes have 12 to 16 separate photoreceptors and can use 12 different color channels (humans only use three).
The compound eye of mantis shrimp contains spectrally selective and polarization-sensitive elements that are vertically stacked along a single optical axis. As light propagates into the stack, the mantis shrimp extracts spectral and polarization information.
Analogously, the SIMPOL sensor comprises spectrally selective (the FRs) and polarization-sensitive elements (the OPVs) that are vertically stacked along a single optical axis. The spectral and polarization information is detected in a similar manner as the mantis shrimp’s eye, enabling simultaneous hyperspectral and polarimetric detection.
Combining hyperspectral and polarimetric imaging provides a powerful sensing modality with broad applications from astronomy to biology.
(Based on materials, photo 2: Science Advances 03 Mar 2021)
The compound eye of mantis shrimp contains spectrally selective and polarization-sensitive elements that are vertically stacked along a single optical axis. As light propagates into the stack, the mantis shrimp extracts spectral and polarization information.
Analogously, the SIMPOL sensor comprises spectrally selective (the FRs) and polarization-sensitive elements (the OPVs) that are vertically stacked along a single optical axis. The spectral and polarization information is detected in a similar manner as the mantis shrimp’s eye, enabling simultaneous hyperspectral and polarimetric detection.
Combining hyperspectral and polarimetric imaging provides a powerful sensing modality with broad applications from astronomy to biology.
(Based on materials, photo 2: Science Advances 03 Mar 2021)