A bio-inspired robot accounts for insect behavior
Abstract
Based on a biorobotic approach developed in our laboratory over the past 25 years, we have
built several terrestrial and aerial vehicles controlled on the basis of Optic Flow (OF) cues [Rev.
Franceschini, 2009, Acta Futura, 3, 15-34]. The LORA III robot is a miniature hovercraft that
perceives the environment by means of neuromimetic OF sensors. To understand how honeybees may
follow a wall [Serres et al., 2008, Naturwissenschaften, 95(10), 1181-1187], center along a corridor
and adjust their speed to the corridor width [Srinivasan et al., 1996, J. Exp. Biol., 199, 237-244], we
developed a vision-based autopilot, which consists of a dual OF regulator controlling the hovercraft’s
translations [Serres et al., 2008, Autom. Rob., 25(1-2), 103-122]. Yaw disturbances introduce adverse
rotational OF component, which do not depend on the distance to obstacles. The robot’s gaze
therefore requires to be stabilized in yaw to make sure the robot will measure only the translational
OF component, as suggested by several insects [Wagner, 1986, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B, 337, 527-
551] [Boeddeker & Hemmi, 2010, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B, 277(1685), 1209-1217] [Zeil et al.,
2008, Current Biol., 18(8), 320-323]. Our biorobotic approach allowed us to better appreciate the
fundamental role of gaze locking in flying animals.
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