A new computer vision system inspired by the design of a cat’s eye could give military drones the ability to track targets in low-visibility environments.
Drones could have lenses and sensors inspired by a cat’s eye PHOTO: Getty Images
Robots, drones, self-driving cars and other autonomous systems are becoming more widespread, but they still struggle to see well in all environments and conditions, according to Live Science.
According to the quoted source, the scientists “have devised a new vision system that uses lenses and advanced sensors inspired by the structure of a feline eye, resulting in improved object detection and recognition.”
The researchers presented their computer vision system in a study published September 18 in the journal Science Advances.
They chose the cat’s eye as their inspiration because felines have excellent vision in both light and dark environments. During the day, a cat’s pupil is shaped like a vertical slit that filters light and reduces glare, helping the cat focus.
At night, the pupil widens to let in more light, and a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum improves their vision by reflecting visible light through the retina and increasing the light available to the photoreceptors.
Similarly, the new system includes a slit-like opening that helps filter out unnecessary light and identify key objects in bright conditions. It then uses reflective layers like those found in cats’ eyes to improve visibility in low-light conditions.
“Robotic cameras often struggle to identify objects in crowded or camouflaged environments, especially when lighting conditions change. Our project solves this problem by allowing robots to blur out unnecessary details and focus on important objects.” said the study’s lead author, Young Min Song, a professor of electronic engineering at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea.
