Investigation of a Bubble Detector based on the Active Electrolocation of Weakly Electric Fish

H. Bousacka, K. Mayekarb, M. Mohana,

R. Zhoua, G. von der Emdeb

aForschungszentrum Jülich, Peter Grünberg Institute PGI-8,52425 Jülich, Germany

bUniversity of Bonn, Institute of Zoology, 53115 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

The sensor presented here applies a simplified process tomography, which is partly based on the principle of active electrolocation used by the weakly electric fish, Gnathonemus petersii. The set-up consists of two ring electrodes arranged axially in a tube filled with a conductive liquid, e.g. water and a read-out electronic. The influence of the design parameters was evaluated by using simulation techniques and measurements. In the basic version with one sending electrode and one receiving electrode flush-mounted in a tube with 40 mm inner diameter, measurements of single gas bubbles of about 3 mm diameter, bubble streams of tiny bubbles, metallic and plastic objects, and mixtures of conductive liquids could all be demonstrated.

Keywords: bubble detector; weakly electric fish; biomimetic; sensor; impedance tomography