An Exhaustive Comparison Framework for Distributed Shape Differentiation in a MEMS Sensor Actuator Array

The Smart Surface¹ project aims at designing an integrated micro-manipulator based on an array of micromodules connected in a 2D array network. Each micromodule has a sensor, an actuator and a processing unit. One of the aims of the processing unit is to recognize the shape of the part that is put on top of the smart surface. This recognition or more precisely this differentiation is done through a distributed algorithm that we call a criterion. The aim of this article is to present the ECO framework, which is able to test exhaustively the efficiency of different differentiation criteria, in terms of differentiation efficiency, memory and processing power needed. The tests show that ECO is of great help for choosing the best criteria to implement inside our smart surface.