Mantis modelling
3D glasses
(January 7, 2016) Miniature
glasses have proved that mantises use 3D vision - providing a new model to
improve visual perception in robots.
Most knowledge about 3D vision has come from vertebrates,
however, a Newcastle University team publishing today in Scientific Reports,
confirm that the praying mantis, an invertebrate, does indeed use stereopsis or
3D perception for hunting.
In a specially-designed insect cinema, they have shown that
it needs to be 'old school' 3D glasses for tests to work on mantises. While in
humans that would be with red and blue lenses, red light is poorly visible to
mantises so they have custom-made glasses with one blue and one green lens!
Better understanding of 3D vision
3D vision in mantises was originally shown in the 1980s by
Samuel Rossel, but his work used prisms and occluders which meant that only a
very limited set of images could be shown. The Newcastle University team has
developed 3D glasses suitable for insects which means they can show the insects
any images they want, opening up new avenues of research.
Study leader, Jenny Read, Professor of Vision Science who is
supported by the Leverhulme Trust said: “Despite their minute brains, mantises
are sophisticated visual hunters which can capture prey with terrifying
efficiency. We can learn a lot by studying how they perceive the world.