Scientists used LEDs to observe the caterpillars

Caterpillars are able to crawl on many different surfaces, can move in any direction, and are very flexible. So they have features that could also be of use to robots. With this in mind, the researchers focused on the ways in which these animals move.

Typically, researchers place apparatus around joints, such as on the ankles or knees, to track these types of behavior. In the case of caterpillars, it is in vain to look for these types of parts, so the team responsible for the study placed a series of small reflective markers directly on the skin manduca friday. In total, scientists used six such tags.

The idea was that commercially available motion tracking cameras would be able to detect these markers and thus determine the track’s motion characteristics. Unfortunately, the shiny skin of the animal made it impossible for the camera to distinguish it from the markers. Scientists therefore decided to replace these markers with small LEDs emitting infrared light. Each of the LEDs measured 0.3 x 0.3 mm and was connected to the power source by thin copper wire.

Once the track was placed on a rotating circular track, the devices tracked its movements accurately using five cameras connected to a computer. The results of the study are to be released later this month.

[Źródło: newatlas.com; grafika: Guy Levy]

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