Sensoorsel

Sensoorsel is a conceptual unit used in discussions of sensory systems to denote a compact, modular sensory module capable of detecting environmental stimuli and converting them into neural or computational signals. The term combines sense-related functionality with organ-like modularity to emphasize scalability and integration of sensing in both biological-inspired and artificial systems.

Typically, a sensoorsel is envisioned as comprising a receptor array, a transduction layer that converts stimuli into electrical signals, and an onboard processing element for preliminary feature extraction. Depending on design goals, it may detect one modality (such as light or pressure) or multiple modalities, and it can operate autonomously or as part of a distributed network of such units.

Implementations are proposed in both biological and engineered contexts. In bioengineering, sensoorsels may be realized as engineered cells or tissue constructs with sensor and processing capabilities. In engineering, they appear as modular sensor nodes in microelectromechanical systems, neuromorphic circuits, or robotic platforms that assemble larger sensing arrays from repeated units.

Usage and discussion of sensoorsels often center on modularity, scalability, fault tolerance, and local processing to reduce data bandwidth to central systems. The concept serves as a framework for analyzing how complex sensing capabilities can emerge from networks of simpler, repeatable units.

See also: sensory organ, receptor, neuromorphic engineering, modular robotics, biohybrid sensor.