A Flexible, Acoustic Localized Sensor with Mass Block-Beam Structure Based on Polydimethylsiloxane-Silver Nanowires

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Flexible strain sensors are advancing rapidly, with array designs being a key research area.
• Acoustic positioning using flexible sensor arrays remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a thin-film, flexible acoustic sensor array.
• To demonstrate the acoustic sensing capabilities and sound source localization using the array.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a flexible acoustic sensor using silver nanowires on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film with a mass block-beam structure.
• Characterization of the sensor's frequency and volume detection ranges, resonance frequency, and detection limits.
• Implementation of a 2D and 3D sound source localization system using the sensor array.

Main Results:

• The acoustic sensor operates within 20-2000 Hz and 83-108 dB.
• Achieved 360° azimuth detection in 2D space with 15° accuracy and demonstrated 3D sound source localization.
• Established a horizontal detection limit of 5 cm and a vertical detection limit of 3.5 cm.

Conclusions:

• This research presents the first use of flexible acoustic sensors for sound source orientation testing.
• The developed flexible acoustic sensor array shows potential for advanced acoustic positioning applications.