UK researchers to model vision and smell of bees

Sussex University (Brighton, UK) scientists are working with partners at the Sheffield University (Sheffield, UK) to produce the first accurate computer models of a honey bee brain in a bid to advance their understanding of Artificial Intelligence.

The team will build models of the systems in the brain that govern honey bee vision and sense of smell.

Using this information, the researchers aim to create an autonomous flying robot, comprising an off-the-shelf flying robot and a bee-like “brain” in the form of a computer program. Instead of flying around via a remote control held by a human, the robot would be able to sense and act as autonomously as a bee.

If successful, the project will meet one of the major challenges of modern science: building a robot brain that can perform complex tasks as well as the brain of an animal.

Tasks the robot will be expected to perform, for example, will include finding the source of particular odors or gases in the same way that a bee can identify particular flowers.

Called "Green Brain", and partially supported with hardware donated by NVIDIA, the project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

"The development of an artificial brain is one of the greatest challenges in artificial intelligence. So far, researchers have typically studied brains such as those of rats, monkeys, and humans, but actually 'simpler' organisms such as social insects have surprisingly advanced cognitive abilities," says Dr. James Marshall, who is leading the £1m project at Sheffield University.

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-- Dave Wilson, Senior Editor, Vision Systems Design