We have been giving robots brains of their own for a quite the while now, so that they may perform specialized and vital tasks for us. Of course, this definition of a “robot brain” points towards some robot following a sufficiently complex pre-made algorithm directing its movements. Recently we have extended this description of a robot brain to include the re-creation of the biological brain of monkeys, humans, and mice in a robot, with hopes that we may be able to create better prosthetics that will respond to our thoughts, and that robots may think for themselves.
The scientists from the universities of Sheffield and Sussex are now tapping into the power of a bee-brain. In a 1 million dollar project, they plan to simulate the parts of their sensory system responsible for smell and sight and subsequently use that in a flying robot. Although bees are simple organisms compared to primates, they have proven to have surprisingly advanced cognitive capabilities, including their amazing ability to find their way back to their colony without fail. It is believed that they use the position of the sun as a reference point and can compensate for its movement across the sky while finding their way back home.
There are already many potential applications for a robot relying on such a simulated brain. For example, flying robots may emerge from this research that have the potential to provide a helping hand in search and rescue missions, or to help mechanically pollinate crops. The fact that the bee of a brain is small and so accessible makes it is very possible for the team of scientists to produce an accurate and complete model of this brain before long.
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