Bionic fiber whisker for vector force sensing

Mammals such as cats have whiskers that possess vector force-sensing capabilities and can perceive air current direction or detect objects, providing precise tactile information for environmental awareness and object exploration. Inspired by this, we propose a fiber bionic whisker that achieves a similar microforce sensing function. This probe consists of a vector-force-encoded optical fiber microcavity that enables in-fiber parallel optical interferometers, analogous to the follicle-sinus complex structure at the base of a cat’s whisker. Based on multi-spectral feature tracking and calibration-matrix decoding, the compact probe achieves force-vector reconstruction, reducing alignment and packaging complexity. Experimental results demonstrate favorable sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability. The feasibility of the bionic whisker for vector wind sensing is also confirmed. This highly integrated device shows great potential for robotic tactile feedback, microforce measurement, and flow-disturbance sensing.