Engineered Mechanosensors Inspired by Biological Mechanosensilla

Abstract Bionic engineering provides a promising way for promoting the development of science and technology. Next‐generation diversified mechanosensors that can efficiently sense four types of mechanical signals, including tactile, vibration, air/water flow, and sound, are also benefiting from the bioinspired approach. Natural organisms have evolved sophisticated biological mechanosensilla with excellent performance, such as ultrahigh sensitivity, resolution, stability, anti‐interference, and miniaturization, providing a great deal of inspiration for urgently needed mechanosensors that are difficult to achieve through conventional methods. Here, the recent advances in biological mechanosensilla and corresponding bioinspired mechanosensors are reviewed in detail. According to the classification of the mechanosensilla, i.e., tactile sensilla, vibrational sensilla, flow sensilla, and acoustic sensilla, this review is mainly divided into four parts. In each part, the research on functional mechanisms of the mechanosensilla based on well‐organized mechanosensory micro/nanostructures and unique functional materials, as well as the bionic design strategy and preparative technique of bioinspired mechanosensors are individually summarized and discussed. Meanwhile, insight into the further efforts in comprehensive understanding of the mechanosensilla, learning from the multiperformance integration of sensilla, and establishing the efficient preparation methods for bioinspired mechanosensors is provided, all of which are needed to be addressed urgently before having bioinspired mechanosensors of practical value.