In the vastness of nature, some of the deepest inspirations come from the tiniest creatures. Insects are often overlooked due to their small size, but they actually have amazing locomotion and efficiency. Their ability to navigate complex environments with brains the size of a needle head has long intrigued scientists and engineers alike. At the forefront of unlocking these secrets is physicist Elisabetta Cikka, whose recent work bridges the gap between biological understanding and technological innovation.
Chikka embarked on a journey to decipher how these tiny creatures accomplished such amazing feats. Her research not only sheds light on the mysteries of insect locomotion, but also paves the way for advances in energy-efficient computing and robotics.
Unlock Insect Navigation
Insects display remarkable navigational abilities despite their limited neural resources. They effortlessly avoid obstacles and deftly squeeze through the tiniest gaps, a feat that has puzzled scientists for years. The core of this ability lies in their unique perception of the world.
In his research, Chicca explains that a key aspect of insect navigation is how they perceive movement. It’s similar to the experience of sitting on a train and observing the scenery. The nearby trees appear to be moving faster than the distant house. Insects use this difference in movement speed to measure distance and move. This simple but effective method works well when traveling in a straight line. However, the real world is not so simple.
Insects adapt to environmental complexity by simplifying their behavior. Usually they fly in a straight line, turn, and then go in another straight line. Chicca’s observations reveal an important lesson: resource limitations can be offset by behavioral adjustments.
The journey from biological insights to robotic applications is a story of interdisciplinary collaboration. Under Chicca’s supervision, his doctoral student Thorben Schoepe developed a model that mimicked the neural activity of insects, which was translated into his small navigation robot.
This robot, which embodies insect navigation principles, is the result of a close collaboration with Martin Egelhaf, a renowned neurobiologist at Bielefeld University. Egelhaf’s expertise in understanding insect computational principles was crucial in developing a model that accurately emulates insect navigational strategies.
Robot navigation feats
The true proof of any scientific model lies in its practical application. In the case of Chicca’s research, the robot equivalent of an insect brain demonstrated its capabilities in a series of complex tests. The most impressive of these was a robot moving through a hallway, with random prints on the walls. This setup was designed to mimic the variety of visual stimuli encountered by insects, and was a difficult course for any navigation system.
The robot, equipped with a model of thorven shape, demonstrated an uncanny ability to maintain a central path in a hallway, which was very similar to the behavior of insects. This was achieved by mimicking the insect’s natural strategy of measuring distance and direction, steering toward areas of least movement. The robot’s success in this environment was a convincing validation of the model.
Beyond the hallways, the robots were tested in a variety of virtual environments, each presenting unique challenges. Whether navigating around obstacles or finding a way through small openings, the robot showed adaptability and efficiency reminiscent of its biological counterpart. Chicca concluded that the model’s ability to operate consistently in a variety of environments reflects the efficiency and versatility underlying insect navigation, rather than simply demonstrating technical ability. .
Thorben Schoepe’s robot in a hallway with random prints.Photo Leoni von Listok
Efficiency in robotics: A new paradigm
The world of robotics has long been dominated by systems that learn and adapt through extensive programming and data processing. Although effective, this approach often requires significant computational resources and energy. Chicca’s research brings a paradigm shift, drawing inspiration from the natural world where efficiency is key.
As Chicca points out, insects are born with an innate ability to move efficiently from the start, without the need for learning or extensive programming. This “hard-wired” efficiency stands in stark contrast to traditional approaches in robotics. By emulating these biological principles, robots can achieve levels of efficiency currently unattainable using traditional methods.
Chicca envisions a future where robotics is not only about learning and adapting, but also about inherent efficiency. This approach could lead to the development of robots that are smaller, consume less energy, and are better suited to a variety of environments. This is a perspective that challenges the status quo and opens new possibilities for the design and application of robotic systems.
You can read the full study here.
