How biomimicry of feline eyes can advance robotic vision

A recent study published in Science Advances explores how the structure of a cat's eye can inspire more effective vision systems in robots, particularly those operating in complex environments.

By mimicking the way feline eyes detect and process visual information, especially under changing light conditions, engineers could enhance the performance of robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles.

The science behind feline eyes

Cats have remarkable vision that allow them to thrive in low-light conditions, this is because their eyes contain two key features that help with this: the vertically elongated pupil and the tapetum lucidum.

The vertically shaped pupil helps cats focus on objects in both bright and dim light, and the tapetum lucidum is a reflective layer behind the retina that bounces light back through the eye. This "second pass" increases the chances that light will hit the photoreceptors in the cat's eye, helping them see better in the dark. It is also what causes a cat's eyes to glow when caught in a beam of light at night.

Mimicking feline eyes for robotics

Taking inspiration from this natural design, researchers have developed an artificial vision system for robots that incorporates similar features. A vertically shaped slit in the robotic "eye" allows it to filter light in a way that helps the system focus on objects against cluttered backgrounds. Meanwhile, a reflective layer mimicking the tapetum lucidum enhances the sensitivity to light, allowing robots to "see" more clearly in dim conditions.

This system enables robots to detect camouflaged objects or items that blend into their surroundings, which is crucial in environments with variable lighting, such as outdoors or in warehouses.

Improved focus and efficiency

One of the main challenges for robotic vision is distinguishing between objects and their backgrounds, especially when the light conditions change drastically. Conventional vision systems often struggle with this, needing heavy computational processing to separate an object from its surroundings. By adapting the structure of feline eyes, robotic vision systems can overcome these challenges with less energy and processing power.

The artificial system can blur the background and highlight objects, much like how a cat’s eye focuses on its prey. This reduces the need for post-processing techniques such as deep learning algorithms, which are often computationally expensive and slow. By cutting down on the complexity of image processing, robots equipped with this new vision technology could operate more efficiently, especially in real-time applications like autonomous driving or drone navigation.

Real-world applications

The uses of this technology are wide-reaching, for autonomous vehicles, for instance, that need to navigate safely in diverse environments, including bright daylight and at night. By incorporating feline-inspired vision systems, these vehicles could better detect pedestrians, other vehicles, and road obstacles in varying light conditions, enhancing safety. Similarly, drones and mobile robots used for tasks such as search and rescue, surveillance, or warehouse management could greatly benefit from enhanced object detection in unpredictable or dim environments.

By taking cues from nature, engineers are making strides toward more efficient, adaptable, and effective robotic vision systems, which have the potential to transform industries. Through this biomimicry, robots and autonomous systems could gain improved vision which would allow them to operate more effectively in a range of complex, real-world environments.