BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Whiskery Experiments
26 August 2015

Whiskery Experiments

Animals with whiskers use these large hairs to probe and sense the environment around them. Their connecting hair follicle contains lots of nerves, making them highly sensitive and allowing the animal to feel with the whiskers. These nerve endings can sense changes in air or fluid around them when the whiskers shift, and detect when there’s direct contact with an object as the whiskers bend. Mimicking this biological system, scientists have developed a ‘robotic whisker array’ using everyday objects – plastic straws, lego blocks and a hairdryer. The straw takes the place of whiskers and an air current is created by the hairdryer; sensors at the base of the straw monitor how the straw responds to changes in the air current by monitoring their movement and shape. Robo-whiskers could potentially be used for many medical applications for example keyhole surgery, where high precision and tactile feedback are needed.

Written by Katie Panteli

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.