In a good news for rash drivers, scientists have created new revolutionary collision sensors, inspired by the locusts's early warning system, which can help prevent car crashes.
Researchers from the University of Lincoln and Newcastle University believe the work could provide the blueprint for highly accurate vehicle collision sensors, surveillance technology and even aid video game programming.
Locusts have a distinctive way of processing information through electrical and chemical signals, giving them an extremely fast and accurate warning system for impending collisions.
The insect has incredibly powerful data processing systems built into its biology, which can in theory be recreated in robotics.
Inspired by the visual processing power built into these insects' biology, Professor Shigang Yue from the University of Lincoln's School of Computer Science and Dr Claire Rind from Newcastle University's Institute of Neuroscience created the computerised system.
Their findings are published in the International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems.
The research started by understanding the anatomy, responses and development of the circuits in the locust brain that allow it to detect approaching objects and avoid them when in flight or on the ground.
A visually stimulated motor control (VSMC) system was then created which consists of two movement detector types and a simple motor command generator. Each detector processes images and extracts relevant visual clues which are then converted into motor commands.
"We created a system inspired by the locusts' motion sensitive interneuron � the lobula giant movement detector. This system was then used in a robot to enable it to explore paths or interact with objects, effectively using visual input only," Yue said in a statement.
"Developing robot neural network programmes, based on the locust brain, has allowed us to create a programme allowing a mobile robot to detect approaching objects and avoid them," Dr Claire Rind said.
"It is not the conventional approach as it avoids using radar or infrared detectors which require very heavy-duty computer processing. Instead it is modelled on the locust's eyes and neurones as the basis of a collision avoidance system," said Rind.
