title: Semi-automatic behavior analysis using robot/insect mixed society and video tracking.
abstract: This paper proposes a novel robot/insect mixed society setup which enhances the possibilities for insect behavioral research and can be used as a powerful tool for interdisciplinary studies on insect behavior. Micro-robots are equipped with decoys so as to allow a controlled dynamic interaction with crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus. A camera records the interaction and the video is later processed for the automatic tracking of each encounter between cricket and robot. A novelty of our method lies in using the robots as tools for the controlled evoking of specific insect behaviors rather than trying to build an insect-like robot. The possibility for performing controlled repeatable movements allows the stimulation of certain insect behaviors that are usually difficult to trigger using insects alone, allowing consistent behavioral research. A set of experiments were performed in order to validate the proposed setup. We also demonstrate the use of our setup for stimulating agonistic behavior during an electromyography recording session.
authors.affiliation: JST ERATO Asada Synergistic Intelligence Project, Osaka, Japan. tioguerra@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rodrigo da Silva
authors.initials: Rda S
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aonuma
authors.forename: Koh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asada
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods; D005010:Ethology / Q000379:methods; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012984:Software; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*