19-05-2012, 02:08 PM
RADIO-CONTROLLED CYBORG BEETLES: A RADIO-FREQUENCY SYSTEM FOR INSECT NEURAL FLIGHT CONTROL
RADIO-CONTROLLED CYBORG BEETLES.pdf (Size: 574.31 KB / Downloads: 39)
INTRODUCTION
Micro air vehicles (MAV’s) which can navigate into
locations not easily accessible to humans have been the
subject of much recent research [1]. However, man-made
MAV’s are still limited in size, payload, distance and
performance. In contrast, many insects have as-yet
unmatched flight performance and increasingly understood
muscular and nervous systems [2]. Additionally, some
insects undergo complete metamorphosis (i.e. form pupae)
and are amenable to implantation and internal
manipulation during pupation. In light of this, there have
been recent efforts by several groups to implant
microsystems into insects to control their flight [3-8].
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS RF System
The remote control system used two Chipcon Texas
Instruments CC2431 microcontrollers (6 x 6 mm, 130 mg,
2.4 GHz); one acting as the beetle-mounted RF receiver
and one as the computer-driven RF transmitter base station.
Based on the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 2(a), we
designed and manufactured custom PCB’s (printed circuit
boards, 16 x 13 mm, FR4 (rigid) version: 500 mg,
polyimide (flexible) version: 70 mg) for the receiver. After
programming, the microcontroller and the other
components were assembled on the PCB as shown in Fig.
2(b). The microcontroller was powered by a rechargeable
micro lithium-polymer-battery (Micro Avionics, 4 V, 8.5
mAh, 350 mg) which was attached on the backside of PCB
with a piece of double adhesive tape as shown in Fig. 2©
and electrically connected to the PCB when used.
CONCLUSION
We present the first-ever wireless flight control
microsystem using a small RF receiver mounted on a live
beetle and an RF transmitter operated from a base station.
Flight initiation and cessation were accomplished by neural
stimulation of both optic lobes while turns in free flight
were elicited by muscular stimulation of basalar flight
muscle on either side.