Optics-less smart sensors and a possible mechanism of cutaneous vision in nature

TL;DR

This paper explores how arrays of simple sensors with cosine-law sensitivity can perform imaging without optics, shedding light on natural cutaneous vision mechanisms through statistical and simulation methods.

Contribution

It introduces a model demonstrating that optics-less sensor arrays can achieve imaging, providing insights into natural cutaneous vision mechanisms.

Findings

Sensors with cosine-law angular sensitivity can perform imaging tasks

Optics-less sensors can be modeled for performance assessment

Potential natural mechanisms for cutaneous vision are suggested

Abstract

Optics-less cutaneous (skin) vision is not rare among living organisms, though its mechanisms and capabilities have not been thoroughly investigated. This paper demonstrates, using methods from statistical parameter estimation theory and numerical simulations, that an array of bare sensors with a natural cosine-law angular sensitivity arranged on a flat or curved surface has the ability to perform imaging tasks without any optics at all. The working principle of this type of optics-less sensor and the model developed here for determining sensor performance may be used to shed light upon possible mechanisms and capabilities of cutaneous vision in nature.