The Bio-Inspired Fluid Flow Lab at UCSB, led by Dr. Emilie Dressaire, studies the
interactions between flowing fluid and deformable structures. The group is actively
investigating how arrays of cilia, or microhairs, deform and interact under different flow
conditions due to their passive filtration capabilities. The current image processing
techniques limit the drag force analysis to a single cilium, presenting a need for a
measurement system that can record the drag forces on multiple cilia. Our team is
developing a displacement-based system to measure and record the drag forces on
ciliated arrays, accommodating multiple standard sample sizes across different flow
rates to allow for a broad range of experimental parameters. This system will expand
our understanding of drag forces on arrays of cilia—research that will advance the
applications of these surfaces in engineering systems.