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Artificial Vision System Inspired by Cat Eyes

Researchers Model Artificial Vision After Cat Eyes to Create a System That Excels in Darkness and Detects Camouflaged Entities

Introduction

Structural and functional features of feline eyes

[Structural and functional features of feline eyes. (A and B) Schematic illustration showing the camouflage-breaking ability of a feline under diverse light condition. (C) Magnified schematic illustration of the tapetum lucidum in the retina. (D) Schematic illustration of the feline eye’s anatomy. (E and F) Schematic illustrations showing the visual ecology of feline and conventional vision during the daytime (E) and nighttime (F).]

Engineers from the Center for Nanoparticle Research, Seoul National University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, and Korea Institute of Science and Technology have created a novel artificial eye inspired by cat eyes.

Research Overview

In their research published in Science Advances, the group modeled two attributes of cat eyes, enabling improved night vision and enhanced camouflage detection.

Limitations of Current Technology

According to the researchers, cameras on drones and robots often employ circular apertures, mimicking the human eye. While this design keeps both the foreground and background in focus, it can hinder accurate tracking of target objects.

Nature's Solution

Animals such as cats have vertically slitted eyes, providing an asymmetric depth of field. Based on this natural design, researchers selected the cat eye structure to guide their artificial eye development.

Previous Research

The concept of modeling artificial eyes after animal vision is not new--just last year, a Korean research team drew inspiration from the cuttlefish eye to design a robotic eye capable of improved vision in murky underwater environments.

Imaging demonstration of the feline eye–inspired vision system

[Imaging demonstration of the feline eye–inspired vision system.]

New Methodology

For this new method, the researchers devised a vertical aperture that keeps the target in focus and the background blurred, improving the camera's precision in tracking objects during the day.

Enhancing Low-Light Vision

Cats possess a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer situated behind the retina, which allows them to see effectively in low-light conditions and gives their eyes a distinctive nighttime glow. The research team mimicked this functionality in their artificial eye by placing silver metal reflectors behind the image sensor.

Conclusion

The combination of these two features enhances the camera's capability to see effectively in low-light conditions while enabling it to track target objects, even when they are camouflaged.

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