Beetles can be found in almost every habitat on Earth, from forests and deserts to freshwater environments. They have adapted to survive in a wide range of conditions. Beetle that Uses the Light of 100 Billion Stars to Push Dung Inspires Advances in Drone and Satellite Navigation
| Date | August 21, 2024 |
| Source | University of South Australia |
| Summary | A species of beetle, which first appeared 130 million years ago, has inspired new research aimed at enhancing navigation systems in drones, robots, and satellites. |
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How Beetle that Uses the Light of 100 Billion Stars to Push Dung Inspires Advances in Drone and Satellite Navigation
The dung beetle is the first known species to use the Milky Way for nighttime navigation, relying on the constellation of stars to roll dung balls in a straight line, avoiding competitors. Swedish researchers discovered this behavior in 2013, and now, Australian engineers are replicating the technique to develop an AI sensor that accurately measures the Milky Way’s orientation in low-light conditions.
Professor Javaan Chahl, a remote sensing engineer from the University of South Australia, along with his PhD students, used computer vision to show that the broad band of light from the Milky Way is not impacted by motion blur, unlike individual stars.
“Nocturnal dung beetles move their head and body a lot while rolling manure, so they need a stable point in the night sky to guide them in a straight path,” says Prof Chahl. “Their compound eyes can’t clearly distinguish individual stars during movement, but the Milky Way remains highly visible.”
In experiments using a camera mounted on a moving vehicle, UniSA researchers captured images of the Milky Way, both while the vehicle was stationary and in motion. These images were used to create a computer vision system that reliably tracks the Milky Way’s orientation, marking the first step toward a new navigation system.
The findings, published in Biomimetics, highlight the potential of this orientation sensor to serve as a backup for stabilizing satellites and aiding drones and robots in navigating low-light environments, even in the presence of motion blur.
“For the next phase, I plan to test the algorithm on a drone to allow it to fly autonomously at night,” says lead author and UniSA PhD candidate Yiting Tao.
While many insects rely on the sun for daytime navigation—like wasps, dragonflies, honeybees, and desert ants—nocturnal insects use the moon or, when it’s obscured, the Milky Way, as dung beetles and some moths do. Prof Chahl emphasizes that insect vision has long provided inspiration for engineers working on navigation systems.
“Insects have been solving complex navigational challenges for millions of years with a brain consisting of only tens of thousands of neurons, while even the most advanced machines struggle to replicate these abilities,” Chahl said.”
FAQ:
1. What are beetles?
Beetles are a type of insect belonging to the order Coleoptera, which is the largest order of insects. They have hard, shell-like front wings (elytra) that protect their delicate hind wings and body.
2. How many species of beetles exist?
There are over 350,000 known species of beetles worldwide, making them the most diverse group of animals on Earth. Some estimates suggest there could be over a million species.