Using the Neural Circuit of the Insect Central Complex for Path Integration on a Micro Aerial Vehicle

2020 ◽  
pp. 325-337
Author(s):  
Jan Stankiewicz ◽  
Barbara Webb
Keyword(s):  
Path Integration ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Central Complex ◽  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

scholarly journals A neural model for insect steering applied to olfaction and path integration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Adden ◽  
Terrence C. Stewart ◽  
Barbara Webb ◽  
Stanley Heinze
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Path Integration ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Central Complex ◽  
Flip Flop ◽  
Descending Neurons ◽  
Output Neurons

AbstractMany animal behaviours require orientation and steering with respect to the environment. For insects, a key brain area involved in spatial orientation and navigation is the central complex. Activity in this neural circuit has been shown to track the insect’s current heading relative to its environment, and has also been proposed to be the substrate of path integration. However, it remains unclear how the output of the central complex is integrated into motor commands. Central complex output neurons project to the lateral accessory lobes (LAL), from which descending neurons project to thoracic motor centres. Here, we present a computational model of a simple neural network that has been described anatomically and physiologically in the LALs of male silkworm moths, in the context of odour-mediated steering. We present and analyze two versions of this network, both implemented in the Nengo framework, one rate-based and one based on spiking neurons. The modelled network consists of an inhibitory local interneuron and a bistable descending neuron (‘flip-flop’), which both receive input in the LAL. The flip-flop neuron projects onto neck motor neurons to induce steering. We show that this simple computational model not only replicates the basic parameters of male silkworm moth behaviour in a simulated odour plume, but can also take input from a computational model of path integration in the central complex and use it to steer back to a point of origin. Furthermore, we find that increasing the level of detail within the model improves the realism of the model’s behaviour. Our results suggest that descending neurons originating in the lateral accessory lobes, such as flip-flop neurons, are sufficient to mediate multiple steering behaviours. This study is therefore a first step to close the gap between orientation circuits in the central complex and downstream motor centres.Author summaryTargeted movements and steering within an environment are essential for many behaviours. In insects, the brain’s center for spatial orientation and navigation is the central complex, which processes information about the configuration of the local environment as well as global orientation cues such as the Sun position. Neural networks in the central complex also compute the insect’s heading direction, and are thought to be involved in generating steering commands. However, it is unclear how these steering commands are transmitted to downstream motor centers. Output neurons from the central complex project to the lateral accessory lobes, a neuropil which also gives rise to descending pre-motor neurons that are involved in steering in the silkworm moth Bombyx mori. In this study, we provide a computational model of a pre-motor neural network in the lateral accessory lobes. We show that this network can steer an agent towards the source of a simulated odor plume, but that it can also steer efficiently when getting input from an anatomically constrained network model of the central complex. This model is therefore a first step to close the gap between the central complex and thoracic motor circuits.

Energy-Based Design of Reconfigurable Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) Flight Structures

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Joo ◽  
Gregory Reich ◽  
James Elgersma ◽  
Kristopher Aber
Keyword(s):  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Energy Based Design

scholarly journals Run Your Visual-Inertial Odometry on NVIDIA Jetson: Benchmark Tests on a Micro Aerial Vehicle

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Jinwoo Jeon ◽  
Sungwook Jung ◽  
Eungchang Lee ◽  
Duckyu Choi ◽  
Hyun Myung
Keyword(s):  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Benchmark Tests ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

scholarly journals Towards the Development of an Automatic UAV-Based Indoor Environmental Monitoring System: Distributed Off-Board Control System for a Micro Aerial Vehicle

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Solis ◽  
Christoffer Karlsson ◽  
Simon Johansson ◽  
Kristoffer Richardsson
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Flight Time ◽  
Distributed Control System ◽  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Environmental Monitoring System ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

This research aims to develop an automatic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based indoor environmental monitoring system for the acquisition of data at a very fine scale to detect rapid changes in environmental features of plants growing in greenhouses. Due to the complexity of the proposed research, in this paper we proposed an off-board distributed control system based on visual input for a micro aerial vehicle (MAV) able to hover, navigate, and fly to a desired target location without considerably affecting the effective flight time. Based on the experimental results, the MAV was able to land on the desired location within a radius of about 10 cm from the center point of the landing pad, with a reduction in the effective flight time of about 28%.

Energy absorbed ability and damage analysis for honeycomb sandwich material of bio-inspired micro aerial vehicle under low velocity impact

2020 ◽  
pp. 095440622097542
Author(s):  
Jianxun Du ◽  
Peng Hao ◽  
Mabao Liu ◽  
Rui Xue ◽  
Lin’an Li
Keyword(s):  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Low Velocity Impact ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Thin Walled Structures ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
The Impact

Because of the advantages of light weight, small size, and good maneuverability, the bio-inspired micro aerial vehicle has a wide range of application prospects and development potential in military and civil areas, and has become one of the research hotspots in the future aviation field. The beetle’s elytra possess high strength and provide the protection of the abdomen while being functional to guarantee its flight performance. In this study, the internal microstructure of beetle’s elytra was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a variety of bionic thin-walled structures were proposed and modelled. The energy absorption characteristics and protective performance of different configurations of thin-walled structures with hollow columns under impact loading was analyzed by finite element method. The parameter study was carried out to show the influence of the velocity of impactor, the impact angle of the impactor and the wall thickness of honeycomb structure. This study provides an important inspiration for the design of the protective structure of the micro aerial vehicle.

Experimental and Numerical Study of Micro-Aerial-Vehicle Propeller Performance in Oblique Flow

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 1076-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Theys ◽  
G. Dimitriadis ◽  
P. Hendrick ◽  
J. De Schutter
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Micro Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Oblique Flow ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Propeller Performance
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