Insect-inspired robot tracks odors even after sensor failure, using moth behavior for resilient navigation
Robots that track smells often fail when one of their sensors breaks. Now, researchers have built a system that keeps working even after losing half its sensing ability, inspired by how insects navigate.
A collaborative team from the National Institute of Informatics, Science Tokyo, and Tohoku University has developed a bio-inspired robot that can locate odor sources both indoors and outdoors with consistent accuracy, even if one of its two sensors stops functioning.The design is based on the silkworm moth, which can still find mates using pheromones even after losing one antenna. The researchers translated this biological behavior into a robotic framework that adapts to incomplete sensory input instead of failing.In tests, the robot was able to maintain nearly the same level of performance before and after one sensor was disabled. This marks a shift from conventional systems, which rely heavily on balanced inputs from both sides.When sensors failMost existing odor-tracking robots assume both left and right sensors work equally well. In real-world conditions, that assumption often breaks down due to damage or interference, leading to major drops in performance.The new system addresses this by mimicking how insects adjust their behavior. Instead of depending on symmetry, the robot continuously interprets signals from the remaining sensor and adjusts its movement accordingly.Researchers studied adult male silkworm moths and found that even with one antenna, they could still reach odor sources with high precision. The insects achieved this by combining odor detection with their movement direction and dynamically changing their behavior.The team then implemented this strategy in a robotic platform equipped with similar olfactory sensing. The robot was tested in both controlled indoor setups and more complex outdoor environments.Insects guide robot designResults showed that the robot maintained efficient search performance and a high success rate even under sensor impairment. It was able to navigate through disturbances and still locate the odor source reliably.This approach highlights a broader shift in robotics, where engineers are borrowing from biological systems to build machines that are more adaptable and resilient.Such odor-tracking robots could be used in disaster response scenarios, where locating survivors or hazardous leaks quickly is critical. They may also support applications like explosive detection and environmental monitoring.By focusing on how simple organisms solve complex problems, the researchers have opened up a new path for designing autonomous systems that can function under imperfect conditions.The study was published in the journal npj Robotics.
Bio-Inspired Robotics Disaster Response Robots Odor Tracking Robot Olfactory Sensors Robotics Research Sensor Failure Silkworm Moth
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