Bioinspiration & Biomimetics,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
18(3), P. 035005 - 035005
Published: March 7, 2023
Many
invertebrates
are
ideal
model
systems
on
which
to
base
robot
design
principles
due
their
success
in
solving
seemingly
complex
tasks
across
domains
while
possessing
smaller
nervous
than
vertebrates.
Three
areas
particularly
relevant
for
designers:
Research
flying
and
crawling
has
inspired
new
materials
geometries
from
bodies
(their
morphologies)
can
be
constructed,
enabling
a
generation
of
softer,
smaller,
lighter
robots.
walking
insects
informed
the
controlling
motion
control)
adapting
environment
without
costly
computational
methods.
And
research
combining
wet
neuroscience
with
robotic
validation
methods
revealed
structure
function
core
circuits
insect
brain
responsible
navigation
swarming
capabilities
mental
faculties)
displayed
by
foraging
insects.
The
last
decade
seen
significant
progress
application
extracted
invertebrates,
as
well
biomimetic
robots
better
understand
how
animals
function.
This
Perspectives
paper
past
10
years
Living
Machines
conference
outlines
some
most
exciting
recent
advances
each
these
fields
before
outlining
lessons
gleaned
outlook
next
invertebrate
research.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: Aug. 8, 2022
Abstract
To
navigate
towards
a
food
source,
animals
frequently
combine
odor
cues
about
source
identity
with
wind
direction
location.
Where
and
how
these
two
are
integrated
to
support
navigation
is
unclear.
Here
we
describe
pathway
the
Drosophila
fan-shaped
body
that
encodes
attractive
promotes
upwind
navigation.
We
show
neurons
throughout
this
encode
odor,
but
not
direction.
Using
connectomics,
identify
local
called
h∆C
receive
input
from
previously
described
pathway.
exhibit
odor-gated,
direction-tuned
activity,
sparse
activation
of
in
reproducible
direction,
activity
required
for
persistent
orientation
during
odor.
Based
on
connectome
data,
develop
computational
model
showing
can
promote
goal
such
as
an
source.
Our
results
suggest
processed
by
separate
pathways
within
goal-directed
Neuron,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
112(15), P. 2581 - 2599.e23
Published: May 24, 2024
Anchoring
goals
to
spatial
representations
enables
flexible
navigation
but
is
challenging
in
novel
environments
when
both
must
be
acquired
simultaneously.
We
propose
a
framework
for
how
Drosophila
uses
internal
of
head
direction
(HD)
build
goal
upon
selective
thermal
reinforcement.
show
that
flies
use
stochastically
generated
fixations
and
directed
saccades
express
heading
preferences
an
operant
visual
learning
paradigm
HD
neurons
are
required
modify
these
based
on
used
symmetric
setting
expose
flies'
co-evolve
the
reliability
interacting
impacts
behavior.
Finally,
we
describe
rapid
new
headings
may
rest
behavioral
policy
whose
parameters
form
genetically
encoded
circuit
architecture.
Such
evolutionarily
structured
architectures,
which
enable
rapidly
adaptive
behavior
driven
by
representations,
relevant
across
species.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 5, 2020
Abstract
Orienting
behaviors
provide
a
continuous
stream
of
information
about
an
organism’s
sensory
experiences
and
plans.
Thus,
to
study
the
links
between
sensation
action,
it
is
useful
identify
neurons
in
brain
that
control
orienting
behaviors.
Here
we
describe
descending
Drosophila
predict
influence
orientation
(heading)
during
walking.
We
show
these
cells
have
specialized
functions:
whereas
one
cell
type
predicts
sustained
low-gain
steering,
other
transient
high-gain
steering.
These
latter
integrate
internally-directed
steering
signals
from
head
direction
system
with
stimulus-directed
multimodal
pathways.
The
inputs
are
organized
produce
“see-saw”
commands,
so
increasing
output
hemisphere
accompanied
by
decreasing
hemisphere.
Together,
our
results
internal
external
drives
integrated
motor
commands
different
timescales,
for
flexible
precise
space.
Sensors,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
21(22), P. 7609 - 7609
Published: Nov. 16, 2021
This
review
article
aims
to
address
common
research
questions
in
hexapod
robotics.
How
can
we
build
intelligent
autonomous
robots
that
exploit
their
biomechanics,
morphology,
and
computational
systems,
achieve
autonomy,
adaptability,
energy
efficiency
comparable
small
living
creatures,
such
as
insects?
Are
insects
good
models
for
building
because
they
are
the
only
animals
with
six
legs?
is
divided
into
three
main
sections
these
questions,
well
assist
roboticists
identifying
relevant
future
directions
field
of
robotics
over
next
decade.
After
an
introduction
section
(1),
will
respectively
cover
following
key
areas:
(2)
biomechanics
focused
on
design
smart
legs;
(3)
locomotion
control;
(4)
high-level
cognition
control.
These
interconnected
interdependent
areas
all
crucial
improving
level
performance
terms
efficiency,
terrain
operational
range.
We
also
discuss
how
generation
bioroboticists
be
able
transfer
knowledge
from
biology
vice
versa.
Journal of Comparative Physiology A,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
209(4), P. 467 - 488
Published: Jan. 20, 2023
Abstract
Using
odors
to
find
food
and
mates
is
one
of
the
most
ancient
highly
conserved
behaviors.
Arthropods
from
flies
moths
crabs
use
broadly
similar
strategies
navigate
toward
odor
sources—such
as
integrating
flow
information
with
information,
comparing
concentration
across
sensors,
over
time.
Because
arthropods
share
many
homologous
brain
structures—antennal
lobes
for
processing
olfactory
mechanosensors
flow,
mushroom
bodies
(or
hemi-ellipsoid
bodies)
associative
learning,
central
complexes
navigation,
it
likely
that
these
closely
related
behaviors
are
mediated
by
neural
circuits.
However,
differences
in
types
they
seek,
physics
dispersal,
locomotion
water,
air,
on
substrates
mean
circuits
must
have
adapted
generate
a
wide
diversity
odor-seeking
In
this
review,
we
discuss
common
specializations
observed
navigation
behavior
arthropods,
review
our
current
knowledge
about
subserving
behavior.
We
propose
comparative
study
arthropod
nervous
systems
may
provide
insight
into
how
set
basic
circuit
structures
has
diversified
different
environments.
Orienting
behaviors
provide
a
continuous
stream
of
information
about
an
organism’s
sensory
experiences
and
plans.
Thus,
to
study
the
links
between
sensation
action,
it
is
useful
identify
neurons
in
brain
that
control
orienting
behaviors.
Here
we
describe
descending
Drosophila
predict
influence
orientation
(heading)
during
walking.
We
show
these
cells
have
specialized
functions:
whereas
one
cell
type
predicts
sustained
low-gain
steering,
other
transient
high-gain
steering.
These
latter
integrate
internally-directed
steering
signals
from
head
direction
system
with
stimulus-directed
multimodal
pathways.
The
inputs
are
organized
produce
“see-saw”
commands,
so
increasing
output
hemisphere
accompanied
by
decreasing
hemisphere.
Together,
our
results
internal
external
drives
integrated
motor
commands
different
timescales,
for
flexible
precise
space.
Vision Research,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
227, P. 108537 - 108537
Published: Jan. 4, 2025
The
traditional
understanding
of
brain
function
has
predominantly
focused
on
chemical
and
electrical
processes.However,
new
research
in
fruit
fly
(Drosophila)
binocular
vision
reveals
ultrafast
photomechanical
photoreceptor
movements
significantly
enhance
information
processing,
thereby
impacting
a
fly's
perception
its
environment
behaviour.The
coding
advantages
resulting
from
these
mechanical
processes
suggest
that
similar
physical
motion-based
strategies
may
affect
neural
communication
ubiquitously.The
theory
morphodynamics
proposes
rapid
biomechanical
microstructural
changes
at
the
level
neurons
synapses
speed
efficiency
sensory
intrinsic
thoughts,
actions
by
regulating
phasic
manner.We
propose
morphodynamic
processing
evolved
to
drive
predictive
coding,
synchronising
cognitive
across
networks
match
behavioural
demands
hand
effectively.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: Sept. 20, 2023
Neural
processing
of
a
desired
moving
direction
requires
the
continuous
comparison
between
current
heading
and
goal
direction.
While
neural
basis
underlying
is
well-studied,
coding
remains
unclear
in
insects.
Here,
we
used
tetrode
recordings
tethered
flying
monarch
butterflies
to
unravel
how
represented
insect
brain.
recording,
maintained
robust
directions
relative
virtual
sun.
By
resetting
their
directions,
found
neurons
whose
spatial
tuning
was
tightly
linked
directions.
Importantly,
unaffected
when
changed
after
compass
perturbations,
showing
that
these
specifically
encode
Overall,
here
discovered
invertebrate
goal-direction
share
functional
similarities
cells
reported
mammals.
Our
results
give
insights
into
evolutionarily
conserved
principles
goal-directed
orientation
animals.