An artificial moth: Chemical source localization using a robot based neuronal model of moth optomotor anemotactic search

Pawel Pyk*, Sergi Bermúdez i Badia, Ulysses Bernardet, Philipp Knüsel, Mikael Carlsson, Jing Gu, Eric Chanie, Bill S. Hansson, Tim C. Pearce, Paul F.M.J. Verschure

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Robots have been used to model nature, while nature in turn can contribute to the real-world artifacts we construct. One particular domain of interest is chemical search where a number of efforts are underway to construct mobile chemical search and localization systems. We report on a project that aims at constructing such a system based on our understanding of the pheromone communication system of the moth. Based on an overview of the peripheral processing of chemical cues by the moth and its role in the organization of behavior we emphasize the multimodal aspects of chemical search, i.e. optomotor anemotactic chemical search. We present a model of this behavior that we test in combination with a novel thin metal oxide sensor and custom build mobile robots. We show that the sensor is able to detect the odor cue, ethanol, under varying flow conditions. Subsequently we show that the standard model of insect chemical search, consisting of a surge and cast phases, provides for robust search and localization performance. The same holds when it is augmented with an optomotor collision avoidance model based on the Lobula Giant Movement Detector (LGMD) neuron of the locust. We compare our results to others who have used the moth as inspiration for the construction of odor robots.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)197-213
    Number of pages17
    JournalAutonomous Robots
    Volume20
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2006

    Keywords

    • Electronic noses
    • Gas distribution mapping
    • Gas source localization
    • Mobile olfaction
    • Odor discrimination

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'An artificial moth: Chemical source localization using a robot based neuronal model of moth optomotor anemotactic search'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this