An insect eye for drones

12. Inspired by the compound eyes of fruit flies, a team of researchers from EPFL has developed an artificial eye that allows robots to detect and avoid obstacles. From E-textiles to cars, the potentials applications are numerous. Is it possible to catch a fly? Small insects seem to possess a sixth sense that allows them to dodge any threats. Yet there is no magic trick, but only a compound eye that is an organ of vision made of thousands of ommatidia. These visual receptors allow insects to perceive precisely their environment, including the direction and speed of movements. Inspired by this natural model, the EPFL team, headed by Dario Floreano, has developed an artificial compound eye, described in a recent publication of Interface, a journal of the Royal Society.