Research
Projects - Theme 2
Theme 2: Vision for Action and Robotics
Theme Leader: M. Srinivasan
- Integration of form based motion signals
- Neural processing in cortex
- Critically testing the role of the polarization compass in honeybee navigation
- Machine vision and robotics
- Wind compensation in honeybee flight
- Visual Cognition in honeybee navigation
- Neural basis of odometry in honeybees
- Characterization of the spectral and polarization properties of fiddler crab photoreceptors
- The structure and processing of natural optic flow in insects
Integration of form based motion signals (Edwards)
This psychophysical study will explore the interaction of spatiotemporal information with form information in the perception of movement. The results will give us an understanding of how the visual system combines the numerous cues available to it in processing complex motion signals, and, in particular, how it combines information across space. This information can then be applied to the building of robotic devices.
Neural processing in cortex (Ibbotson, Dreher)
One of the best-known dichotomies in neuroscience is the division of neurons in the mammalian primary visual cortex into simple and complex cells. However, the mechanisms underlying differences between these two cell types are not well understood despite them forming the input to all higher levels of processing in the visual brain. We plan to address this question by using a variety of sophisticated visual stimuli and recording techniques to establish definitively and quantitatively the neural mechanisms that distinguish these two classes of visual neurons. Given that every neuroscience textbook describes the properties of neurons in primary visual cortex without a categorical model to explain them, we expect that the present work will have a major impact in the field.
Critically testing the role of the polarization compass in honeybee navigation (Srinivasan, Zhang)
Although there is anatomical and physiological evidence for polarized-light sensitivity in the honeybee visual system, there is surprisingly little behavioural evidence that bees actually use the polarized light pattern in the sky as a compass for navigation. This study will conduct behavioural experiments to investigate the use of the polarised light compass by honeybees. Apart from their basic scientific value, the findings should inform the design of navigation systems for robots that are based on the use of a celestial compass.
Machine vision and robotics (Srinivasan, Ibbotson)
This research will incorporate principles uncovered from basic research on flying insects, to design novel, biologically inspired visual guidance systems for autonomous, self-navigating vehicles.
Wind compensation in honeybee flight (Srinivasan, Zhang, Ibbotson)
Recent research in our laboratory has revealed that honeybee flight is surprisingly robust to headwind. This study will seek to understand how this compensation is achieved.
Visual Cognition in honeybee navigation (Zhang, Srinivasan, Ibbotson)
This study will investigate the importance of celestial cues, terrestrial cues and clock-based cues in navigation, and seek to explore some of the underlying neural mechanisms.
Neural basis of odometry in honeybees (Ibbotson, Srinivasan, Zhang)
Recent behavioural research in the ANU laboratory suggests that bees estimate how far they have flown by integrating over time the optic flow that they experience during the journey. This project seeks to uncover the neural basis of the odometer. More generally, it will provide insights into how neural systems can integrate signals over unusually long periods of time.
Characterization of the spectral and polarization properties of fiddler crab photoreceptors (Zeil, Vaney)
This project will, for the first time, establish the spectral and polarization sensitivities of brachyuran crabs and enable us to reconstruct what they see in quantitative detail. Its unique feature is that it involves an animal in which visual tasks and visual decision making can be investigated and understood in unprecedented detail and under natural conditions.
The structure and processing of natural optic flow in insects ( Zeil,Vaney)
This study will measure flight paths and head movements of insects with different flight styles (bees and flies), reconstruct the natural optic flow that is experienced by using a panoramic imaging system mounted on a mobile robotic gantry, and display these image sequences to flies in electrophysiological experiments to understand how optic flow information in a natural context is analysed by motion-sensitive neurons in the visual pathway. The findings should be relevant not only to insects, but to a broad range of visual systems, and thus provide useful inputs to projects in Theme 1.
