Autonomous driving systems such as drones, self-driving cars, and robots are becoming increasingly common in our daily lives. However, they often have difficulty “seeing” well in a variety of environments, such as bright sunlight, low light, or when objects blend into complex backgrounds. Interestingly, nature may already have a solution to this problem.
Cats are known to have amazing vision in both bright light and darkness. Their eyes are uniquely adapted. During the day, the vertical slit-shaped pupil helps focus and reduce glare. At night, the pupil dilates to let in more light, and a reflective layer called the lamina lucidum improves night vision, giving the eye a familiar glow.
A team of Korean researchers led by Professor Youngmin Song of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) has designed a new vision system using advanced lenses and sensors inspired by cat eyes. The system includes a slit-shaped aperture that, like a cat’s vertical pupil, filters out unwanted light and helps focus key objects. It also uses a special reflective layer similar to that found in cat eyes that improves visibility in low-light conditions. The study was published in the journal scientific advancement Announced on September 18, 2024, it represents a significant advancement in artificial vision systems, demonstrating enhanced object detection and recognition capabilities and placing it at the forefront of technological innovation in autonomous robotics.
“Robotic cameras often struggle to find objects in complex or camouflaged backgrounds, especially when lighting conditions change,” said Professor Song. “Our design solves this problem by allowing the robot to blur out unnecessary details and focus on important objects. “It solves problems,” he explains. This approach also has the added benefit of being energy efficient because it relies on lens design rather than heavy computer processing.
This groundbreaking technology changes the landscape of robotic vision by opening up exciting possibilities for real-world applications. Advanced vision systems increase the precision of drones, security robots, and autonomous vehicles, allowing them to adeptly navigate complex environments and execute tasks with unparalleled accuracy. “From search and rescue operations to industrial monitoring, these cutting-edge robotic eyes are ready to complement or replace human efforts in a variety of critical scenarios,” Professor Song emphasizes.
