Mechanics of bioinspired imaging systems

• Two types of bioinspired imaging systems, i.e. tunable electronic eyeball cameras and artificial compound eye cameras, are introduced.
• Recent progresses in mechanics of these bioinspired imaging systems are reviewed.
• The impact of mechanics on related systems and future development of curvilinear optoelectronics are discussed.

Imaging systems in nature have attracted a lot of research interest due to their superior optical and imaging characteristics. Recent advancements in materials science, mechanics, and stretchable electronics have led to successful development of bioinspired cameras that resemble the structures and functions of biological light-sensing organs. In this review, we discuss some recent progresses in mechanics of bioinspired imaging systems, including tunable hemispherical eyeball camera and artificial compound eye camera. The mechanics models and results reviewed in this article can provide efficient tools for design and optimization of such systems, as well as other related optoelectronic systems that combine rigid elements with soft substrates.