A Bionic Compound Eye-Inspired Micro-Nano Integrated Polarization Sensor: Polarization Detection and Solar Positioning

The demand for localization using sky-polarized light has spurred significant advancements in polarization sensors. However, there is still a notable shortage of polarization sensors that are compact, lightweight, and highly integrated. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a manufacturing process that can produce high-quality, efficient polarization sensors at a lower cost. In this manuscript, we explore the design and implementation of a miniature bionic compound eye polarization (MBCEP) sensor inspired by the structure of the mantis shrimp's compound eyes. The curved microlens arrays (CMLAs), a key component, are fabricated using ultraprecision machining and hot embossing technologies. The core element, a CMOS sensor integrated with metamaterials, employs nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and an aluminum thermal evaporation process to integrate the periodic arrays of metallic nanowires onto the surface of the CMOS sensor. A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) serves as the processor, capable of real-time computation and image output of polarization data. The MBCEP sensor is compact and lightweight, measuring only 84 × 82 × 34 mm and weighing approximately 65 g. Additionally, a polarization distribution model of the sky has been established. A testing system was established for calibrating and measuring the fundamental performance of the MBCEP sensor. Experimental results demonstrate that the sensor can accurately perform polarization imaging and capture polarized light information. In solar position tests, after systematic calibration, the MBCEP sensor effectively captures polarized information from the sky, ultimately achieving precise measurements of the sun's position.