Reminder—
Malcolm MacIver from Northwestern will be giving the robotics
colloquium tomorrow (Friday). He does very interesting work on
electrolocation in fish and robots.
Title:
Robotic Electrolocation
Malcolm MacIver, Northwestern University
2:30 pm
May 25
Paul Allen Center, CSE 305
Abstract:
Electrolocation is used by the weakly electric fish of South America
and Africa to navigate and hunt in murky water where vision is
ineffective. These fish generate an AC electric field that is
perturbed by objects nearby that differ in impedance from the water.
Electroreceptors covering the body of the fish report the amplitude
and phase of the local field. The animal decodes electric field
perturbations into information about its surroundings. Electrolocation
is fundamentally divergent from optical vision (and other imaging
methods) that create projective images of 3D space. Current
electrolocation methods are also quite different from electrical
impedance tomography. We will describe current electrolocation
technology, and progress on development of a propulsion system
inspired by electric fish to provide the precise movement capabilities
that this short-range sensing approach requires.
Bio:
Malcolm MacIver is Associate Professor at Northwestern University with
joint appointments in the Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical
Engineering departments. He is interested in the neural and mechanical
basis of animal behavior, evolution, and the implications of the close
coupling of movement with gathering information for our understanding
of intelligence and consciousness. He also develops immersive art
installations that have been exhibited internationally.
—
Joshua R. Smith
Associate Professor, Depts. of CSE & EE, University of Washington
Box 352350 [Express mail: add “185 Stevens Way”]
Seattle, WA 98195-2350, USA
Office: CSE 556; Lab: EE 359
Email: jrs@cs.washington.edu Phone: 206 685 2094, Fax: 206 543 2969