Designing and implementing nervous system simulations on LEGO robots

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Robotics
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Systems neuroscience hypotheses require accessible experimental platforms.
• Model organisms like the American Lobster exhibit complex reflexive behaviors.
• LEGO Mindstorms NXT offers a customizable robotics platform for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a method for testing systems-level neuroscience hypotheses using the LEGO Mindstorms NXT platform.
• To develop and validate a nervous system simulation for reflexive behaviors.
• To provide an affordable and efficient platform for biomimetic robot control research.

Main Methods:

• Developing a nervous system simulation in LabVIEW for LEGO Mindstorms NXT.
• Modeling reflexive behaviors of the American Lobster.
• Conducting comparative behavioral experiments on robots and animals under identical conditions.

Main Results:

• The method allows for experimental manipulation of electronic nervous systems.
• Differences in behavioral outputs inform model iteration for specific behaviors.
• The platform facilitates the exploration of neurophysiological bases of innate behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The LEGO Mindstorms NXT platform is a viable tool for testing neuroscience hypotheses on reflexive behaviors.
• This approach enables the study of neurophysiological underpinnings of simple behaviors.
• The method is suitable for high school biorobotics curricula and inquiry-based learning.