Robots Inspired by Insect-Like Vision with Compound Eye Technology

Robotics technology has made significant advancements in recent years, with researchers constantly seeking innovative ways to improve robot capabilities. One area of focus has been on enhancing robot vision, which traditionally relies on standard camera concepts for image capture. However, the high cost associated with this approach has prompted roboticists to explore alternative solutions, such as developing robots with compound eyes inspired by insects.

Compound eyes, characterized by multiple small lenses covering a hemisphere, are a common feature in insects, allowing them to create a mosaic-like image in their brains. Replicating this complex structure in electronic eyes presents a challenge due to the difficulty of attaching flat lenses onto a curved surface. Despite the obstacles, a research team has made significant progress in creating a functional compound eye for robots.

The team's innovative approach involved using a plastic hemisphere with numerous pinholes drilled through its surface to enable light entry. Each hole was then filled with a perovskite nanowire that directs light onto individual light sensors. These sensors are connected to a central processor that stitches the captured images together, mimicking the insect eye's ability to form unified images.

According to the researchers, their compound eye design offers a cost-effective solution for robot vision, boasting a field of view of 140 degrees. When paired with another eye of the same type, the field of view expands to an impressive 220 degrees, providing robots with enhanced visual perception.

In a practical demonstration of their technology, the research team equipped a flying drone with a pair of compound eyes and used it to monitor the movements of a four-legged walking robot. They envision their design being particularly well-suited for robots operating in swarms or autonomous vehicles, where a wide field of view and efficient image processing are essential.