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Insect-inspired antennal sensory system excels in tactile and magnetic perception
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Insect antennae have long fascinated scientists with their remarkable ability to detect an array of environmental stimuli, from vibrations and surface textures to magnetic fields. These diminutive sensory organs display a level of perceptual acuity that often surpasses that of human skin, enabling insects to navigate complex environments and make sophisticated decisions.
However, replicating the multifunctional sensing and efficient neural processing of insect antennae has remained a formidable challenge.
Previous attempts to create artificial tactile sensory systems have primarily focused on mimicking the planar structure of mammalian skin or the multi-directional sensing of whiskers. While these efforts have yielded valuable insights, they have been limited by the inherent constraints of their biological models. In contrast, insect antennae, with their segmented, three-dimensional structure and diverse sensory receptors, offer a more promising blueprint for developing advanced sensory systems with enhanced capabilities.
Recent advancements in materials science, micro- and nanofabrication techniques, and neuromorphic engineering have opened new avenues for exploring insect-inspired sensory systems. The ability to create flexible, miniaturized sensors with novel materials and integrate them with artificial neural networks has brought researchers closer to realizing the complex sensing and processing capabilities of insect antennae. These developments have paved the way for a new generation of biomimetic sensory platforms that can outperform conventional artificial sensors and even surpass human perception in certain domains.
An innovative study published in the journal Nature Communications ("Neuromorphic antennal sensory system") has taken a significant leap forward in this direction by developing a neuromorphic antennal sensory system that emulates the structural, functional, and neuronal characteristics of ant antennae. This innovative research showcases the immense potential of insect-inspired sensory systems, demonstrating their ability to surpass human performance in tactile exploration and magnetic perception tasks.
Design of a neuromorphic antennal sensory system
Design of the neuromorphic antennal sensory system. a Mechano- and magneto-sensation functions of the ant. b The architecture of a biological antennal nerve. Slowly-adapting (SA) and fast-adapting (FA) neural spikes are transmitted from sensory receptors to sensory neurons. c A neuromorphic antennal sensory system comprises an electronic antennae sensor, a spike-encoding circuit, and artificial synaptic devices. d Information flow in neuromorphic antennal sensory system. First, the piezoelectric signal (receptor potential) acquired from each artificial antenna is encoded into SA and FA spike trains carrying spatiotemporal patterns of the sensory stimuli. Then, two artificial synaptic devices (SA and FA devices) process the pairwise SA and pairwise FA spike trains, respectively, and produce two synaptic currents. Curves in (d) are shifted vertically for clarity. SA1 and SA2: slowly adapting spikes from Antenna #1 and #2; FA1 and FA2: fast-adapting spikes from Antenna #1 and #2. (Image: Nature Communications, CC BY) (click on image to enlarge)
"Our approach was driven by the desire to replicate the exquisite sensing capabilities of ant antennae, which enable these tiny insects to detect a wide range of mechanical and magnetic stimuli with unparalleled precision," Dr. Chengpeng Jiang, the paper's first author, tells Nanowerk. "To achieve this, we created a pair of electronic antennae that closely mimic the segmented, flexible structure of their biological counterparts. We fabricated these artificial antennae using advanced materials and microfabrication techniques, resulting in highly sensitive, multifunctional strain sensors capable of detecting subtle mechanical deformations caused by tactile stimuli or magnetic fields."
One of the key innovations in this study is the use of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes deposited on a metal oxide film to create artificial synaptic devices that emulate the function of sensory neurons in insects. These devices exhibit synaptic plasticity and memory effects, enabling them to process and adapt to sensory information in a manner similar to biological neural networks. By integrating these artificial synaptic devices with the electronic antennae, the researchers created a complete neuromorphic sensory system that can efficiently process tactile and magnetic stimuli in parallel.
The team extensively tested the performance of this neuromorphic antennal sensory system in a series of experiments that highlight its superior capabilities compared to human tactile perception. In texture discrimination tasks, the artificial antennae achieved an impressive accuracy of over 90% in classifying different surface textures, such as ridged patterns and fabric materials. This surpasses the performance of human subjects in "blind" tactile exploration, demonstrating the system's enhanced sensitivity and resolution.
Furthermore, the researchers incorporated magnetic material into the tips of the electronic antennae, creating a biomimetic magnetoreceptor that can detect the presence and orientation of magnetic fields with high precision. This capability was showcased in magnetic navigation tasks, where the sensory system successfully guided a mobile robot towards a target location using only magnetic cues. Such advanced magnetic perception holds promise for the development of autonomous robots that can navigate in environments where visual cues are limited or unavailable.
Another groundbreaking aspect of this research is the demonstration of touchless interaction using the neuromorphic antennal sensory system. By detecting the magnetic fields generated by a finger-worn magnet, the system could recognize different hand gestures and motions with high accuracy. This opens up new possibilities for hygienic and intuitive human-machine interfaces that do not rely on physical contact.
By drawing inspiration from the complex structure and neural processing of ant antennae, the researchers have created an artificial sensory platform that not only matches but exceeds human performance in certain tactile and magnetic perception tasks. This work paves the way for a new generation of multifunctional, efficient, and adaptable sensory systems that could revolutionize a wide range of applications, from robotics and prosthetics to human-machine interfaces.
"By emulating the structural, functional, and neuronal characteristics of ant antennae, this system represents a milestone in neuromorphic perception with biomimetic intelligence," Prof. Wentao Xu, who led this work, points out. "In the future, we plan to integrate flexible actuators with the system to enable antennal movement and active tactile exploration."
"The potential implications of this research extend beyond the development of advanced sensory systems," Jiang concludes. "The neuromorphic processing principles employed in our study could inspire new approaches to efficient and robust information processing in artificial intelligence systems. By mimicking the distributed, parallel processing of insect neural networks, we may be able to develop more energy-efficient and adaptable neuromorphic hardware that can handle real-world sensory data more effectively."
As scientists continue to unravel the secrets of insect sensory systems, the development of bioinspired sensors and neuromorphic processing architectures will undoubtedly accelerate. The neuromorphic antennal sensory system presented in this study represents a significant leap forward in this ongoing endeavor, showcasing the immense potential of drawing inspiration from nature to create advanced technologies that surpass human capabilities. With further refinements and integration with other sensory modalities, such insect-inspired sensory systems could usher in a new era of perceptual intelligence and human-machine interaction, transforming the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Michael Berger By – Michael is author of three books by the Royal Society of Chemistry:
Nano-Society: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology,
Nanotechnology: The Future is Tiny, and
Nanoengineering: The Skills and Tools Making Technology Invisible
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