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Artificial ears for a biomimetic sonarhead: from multiple reflectors to surfaces
J M Carmena1, N Kämpchen, D Kim
1Institute of Perception, Action and Behaviour, Division of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL, Scotland, UK. jose@dai.ed.ac.uk
Artificial Life
|October 3, 2001
Summary
Researchers evolved artificial bat-like ears (pinnae) for a robot
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Bioacoustics
- Evolutionary Computation
Background:
- Narrowband echolocating bats utilize movable pinnae to adjust auditory directional sensitivity.
- Previous artificial pinnae designs involved multiple reflectors around a transducer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evolve complex pinna shapes for a biomimetic sonarhead (RoBat) using an evolutionary approach.
- To improve the directional sensitivity of robotic sonar systems.
Main Methods:
- An acoustic model inspired by human ear concha physics was employed.
- A genetic algorithm was used to evolve pinna shapes based on desired directivity patterns.
- The evolved shapes were tested on a mobile robot's sonarhead.
Main Results:
- The genetic algorithm successfully evolved complex, paraboloid-shaped artificial pinnae.
- Evolved pinnae demonstrated improved performance compared to a bare transducer.
- The shapes were tailored for specific echolocating behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary algorithms are effective for designing biomimetic acoustic structures.
- Artificial pinnae can significantly enhance the performance of robotic sonar systems.
- The developed acoustic model provides a robust framework for future pinna design.