Fe and Al nanocomposites have been prepared using the plasma-gas-condensation cluster deposition system and investigated by transmission electron microscope and magnetization measurements. In Fe-Al alloy clusters assemblies prepared with the single glow discharge source there are bcc Fe-Al and B2-type ordered FeAl phases. In Fe/Al cluster composites prepared with double glow discharge sources, coreshell clusters are obtained: Fe cores are covered by Al and/or Al-oxide crystallites. In magnetization curves of the Fe-Al alloy cluster assembly and Fe/Al cluster composite, magnetic coercivity values are much smaller than that of an Fe cluster assembly. These results indicate that Fe-rich ferromagnetic Fe-Al phases exist in the Fe-Al alloy cluster assembly and Fe cores are covered and their magnetic coupling are weakened by Al and/or Al-oxide layers in the Fe/Al cluster composite.
This paper describes a contact-type air flow sensor inspired by crickets' sensillar seta. The sensor consists of a metal cantilever and an insulation layer. Air flow bends a hair connected to the cantilever, which causes the deflection of the cantilever and the contact with the substrate. Wind tunnel tests showed that the airflow sensors were able to detect wind velocity ranging from 0.1 m/s to 1 m/s depending on the length of the cantilever. A hexapod miniature robot with two airflow sensors of different lengths were fabricated using MEMS techniques. A thin brass plate was patterned and etched according to the developed shape of the robot, and the sensors were integrated on the brass plate. The plate was then folded to assemble the 3D robot body. The robot successfully walked in two different ways depending on the wind velocity.
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