insect eye for camera
The ability of insects that can see the nocturnal or in darkness at night, inspiring professor Eric Warrant of Lund University in Sweden to collaborate with automakers Toyota developed a special camera for the night.
This collaborative project aims to develop a new type color camera that would help motorists drive more safely at night.
Several years ago, when Toyota wanted a new way of developing a special security features on their cars, they began an investigation in the field of bio-mimetic or bio-inspiration. The second term refers to the development and manufacturing technology solutions to make the nature and living things as an example to emulate. Toyota then contacted Warrant to learn more about his research that reveals the nature of insects that are nocturnal active.
“For example, there are many things that can be learned from beetles that live in cow dung, which are nocturnal active,” said Warrant, as quoted by Science Daily, Tuesday (19/1/2010).
For 25 years, Warrant and his team at the Department of Biology, Lund University research study focused on the sight of insects, especially the ability to see in the dark.
The study of living things such Warrant is beetles, bees and moths. These three types of these insects have the ability to see the nocturnal. After investigation, beetles, bees and moths have eyes with lenses coated simultaneously working to create a single image in the eyes of animals.
Cells sensitive to light in the retina of their eyes have the capacity to exploit the light, even when in the dark or the light is very weak supply. When night fell, the sensitive cells begin to work together and create a flexible retinal function.
In addition to Warrant, mathematician from Lund University Henrik Malm help change the ability of insects that great vision into a mathematical algorithm. This algorithm forms the basis for creating a digital image for all types of cameras used in the dark or at night.
“The algorithm that we have found a method to imitate insect eyes in improving visual perception in the dim light,” said Malm.
Night-vision cameras that mimic the insect’s eyes are now on trial by Toyota to be immediately applied to production cars Toyota
