Computer modelling of the human eye, the brain of a rat and a robot could revolutionise advances in neuroscience and new technology, says a QUT leading robotics researcher.
Dr Michael Milford from QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty says the new study uses new computer algorithms to enable robots to navigate intelligently, unrestricted by high-density buildings or tunnels.
“This is a very Frankenstein type of project,” Dr Milford said.
“It’s putting two halves of a thing together because we’re taking the eyes of a human and linking them up with the brain of a rat.
“A rodent’s spatial memory is strong but has very poor vision while humans can easily recognise where they are because of eyesight,” he said.
“We have existing research, software algorithms in robots to model the human and rat brain.
“We’ll plug in the two pieces of software together on a robot moving around in an environment and see what happens.”
The research has been published in the British journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
Dr Milford said the research would also study how the human brain degrades, in particular how it fails to recognize familiar places.
“The brain’s spatial navigation capabilities degrade early in diseases like Alzheimer’s,” he said.
“So it has relevance as a potential study mechanism for studying mental disease as well.”
Dr Milford was awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship to support his study.
He is one of Australia’s leading experts on developing technology to visually recognise locations and is chief investigator at the QUT-based headquarters of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Robotic Vision.
Dr Milford said place recognition is a key component of navigation but the technology to date is limited.
“Current robotic and personal navigation systems leave much to be desired,” he said.
“GPS only works in open outdoor areas, lasers are expensive and cameras are highly sensitive but in contrast, nature has evolved superb navigation systems.”
Dr Milford said drivers could miss or take the wrong exit because personal navigation systems didn’t work in tunnels because there was no satellite signal.
“That’s an example of one of many ways we’d like to create really cool, useful technology,” he said.
The Latest on: Robot navigation
via Google News
The Latest on: Robot navigation
- Alarming Footage Shows Robot Battle Tank Blowing Up Carson June 16, 2022 at 9:46 am
Its navigation and obstacle detection systems are powered by AI, according to the company, giving it a rather terrifying edge over any human adversaries. The tank can be outfitted with massive ...
- This Shark IQ robot vacuum can empty itself—and it's at its lowest price ever for Prime Day 2021on June 16, 2022 at 8:28 am
The Shark IQ AV1010AE Robot Vacuum cleans on its own, recharges on its own and dumps all the dirt, crumbs and pet hair it picks up into a canister—which can hold up to 45 days w ...
- Clean up your house with this Anker robot vacuum for $200on June 16, 2022 at 7:29 am
“The Eufy G30 Edge is an easy-to-use mapping robot vacuum that cleans thoroughly and efficiently,” we said. The G30 Edge features Eufy’s Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0, which offers faster navigation ...
- Ukrainian Combat Robots Join Fight Against Russian Invasionon June 16, 2022 at 2:40 am
The locally-built GNOM will be fighting on the front line from next week, allowing operators to see and shoot at Russian forces while staying out of harm's way.
- Insect-inspired AI for autonomous robotson June 15, 2022 at 11:01 am
Swarm of tiny drones is able to localize gas leaks: https://youtu.be/hj_SBSpK5qg (Guido de Croon) - AntBot: A walking robot that uses sky polarization for navigation: ...
- Tiny, Tumbling Origami Robots Could Help with Targeted Drug Deliveryon June 14, 2022 at 11:40 am
The design’s origami pattern creates the flexibility needed to deliver compounds to specific areas of the body ...
- Shark's XL Robot Vacuum Is Discounted by $300 at Amazon Today Onlyon June 14, 2022 at 4:44 am
With 50% off its regular price, it might finally be the time to hand off some manual labor to a little robot friend.
- Robots Are Coming to the Construction Siteon June 13, 2022 at 6:50 am
Construction robots is one of the hottest emerging technologies in the industry with the ability to address labor shortages and make jobsites safer.
- Robots Come to Life at the National Restaurant Association Show and Beyondon June 12, 2022 at 8:27 am
There was a vast array of next-generation technologies on display at this year’s National Restaurant Association show, which took place May 21-24 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. But no ...
- Humatics now a part of Universal Robots UR+ programon June 10, 2022 at 5:03 pm
Humatics joins the UR+ program and delivers a simplified solution to higher accuracy positioning of UR cobot manipulators.
via Bing News