title: Contrast-independent biologically inspired motion detection.
abstract: Optic flow, i.e., retinal image movement resulting from ego-motion, is a crucial source of information used for obstacle avoidance and course control in flying insects. Optic flow analysis may prove promising for mobile robotics although it is currently not among the standard techniques. Insects have developed a computationally cheap analysis mechanism for image motion. Detailed computational models, the so-called elementary motion detectors (EMDs), describe motion detection in insects. However, the technical application of EMDs is complicated by the strong effect of local pattern contrast on their motion response. Here we present augmented versions of an EMD, the (s)cc-EMDs, which normalise their responses for contrast and thereby reduce the sensitivity to contrast changes. Thus, velocity changes of moving natural images are reflected more reliably in the detector response. The (s)cc-EMDs can easily be implemented in hardware and software and can be a valuable novel visual motion sensor for mobile robots.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology, Bielefeld University, D-33594 Bielefeld, Germany. bbabies@ti.uni-bielefeld.de
authors.forename: Birthe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babies
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egelhaaf
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D057849:Optic Flow; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors