LOCUSTS migrate in swarms as thick as “80 million
locusts per square kilometer [0.4 sq mi].” Yet they avoid colliding with
one another. What is their secret?
Consider: Behind each of a
locust’s two compound eyes is a motion-sensitive neuron called the
lobula giant movement detector (LGMD). When a collision appears
imminent, these neurons send messages to the wings and legs, prompting
the locust to act quickly. In fact, its reaction is five times faster
than the blink of an eye.
Inspired by the locust’s eyes and neurons,
scientists have developed a computerized system that allows a mobile
robot to detect and avoid approaching objects, without the need for
complicated radar or infrared detectors. Researchers are applying this
technology to vehicles, giving them a fast and accurate warning system
that could reduce collisions. “There’s so much to learn from such a
simple insect as the locust,” says Professor Shigang Yue at the
University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom.
