Robo-pigeons,a novel class of hybrid robotic systems developed using brain–computer interface technology,hold marked promise for search and rescue missions due to their superior load-bearing capacity and sustained fl...Robo-pigeons,a novel class of hybrid robotic systems developed using brain–computer interface technology,hold marked promise for search and rescue missions due to their superior load-bearing capacity and sustained flight performance.However,current research remains largely confined to laboratory environments,and precise control of their flight behavior,especially flight altitude regulation,in a large-scale spatial range outdoors continues to pose a challenge.Herein,we focus on overcoming this limitation by using electrical stimulation of the locus coeruleus(LoC)nucleus to regulate outdoor flight altitude.We investigated the effects of varying stimulation parameters,including stimulation frequency(SF),interstimulus interval(ISI),and stimulation cycles(SC),on the flight altitude of robo-pigeons.The findings indicate that SF functions as a pivotal switch controlling the ascending and descending flight modes of the robo-pigeons.Specifically,60 Hz stimulation effectively induced an average ascending flight of 12.241 m with an 87.72% success rate,while 80 Hz resulted in an average descending flight of 15.655 m with a 90.52% success rate.SF below 40 Hz did not affect flight altitude change,whereas over 100 Hz caused unstable flights.The number of SC was directly correlated with the magnitude of altitude change,enabling quantitative control of flight behavior.Importantly,electrical stimulation of the LoC nucleus had no significant effects on flight direction.This study is the first to establish that targeted variation of electrical stimulation parameters within the LoC nucleus can achieve precise altitude control in robo-pigeons,providing new insights for advancing the control of flight animal–robot systems in real-world applications.展开更多
基金supported by the Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(grant no.1005-IZD2300225)the Scientific Research Starting Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences(no.E3J1230201)+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(no.2020YFB1313504)the Science and Technology Cooperation Project of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.
文摘Robo-pigeons,a novel class of hybrid robotic systems developed using brain–computer interface technology,hold marked promise for search and rescue missions due to their superior load-bearing capacity and sustained flight performance.However,current research remains largely confined to laboratory environments,and precise control of their flight behavior,especially flight altitude regulation,in a large-scale spatial range outdoors continues to pose a challenge.Herein,we focus on overcoming this limitation by using electrical stimulation of the locus coeruleus(LoC)nucleus to regulate outdoor flight altitude.We investigated the effects of varying stimulation parameters,including stimulation frequency(SF),interstimulus interval(ISI),and stimulation cycles(SC),on the flight altitude of robo-pigeons.The findings indicate that SF functions as a pivotal switch controlling the ascending and descending flight modes of the robo-pigeons.Specifically,60 Hz stimulation effectively induced an average ascending flight of 12.241 m with an 87.72% success rate,while 80 Hz resulted in an average descending flight of 15.655 m with a 90.52% success rate.SF below 40 Hz did not affect flight altitude change,whereas over 100 Hz caused unstable flights.The number of SC was directly correlated with the magnitude of altitude change,enabling quantitative control of flight behavior.Importantly,electrical stimulation of the LoC nucleus had no significant effects on flight direction.This study is the first to establish that targeted variation of electrical stimulation parameters within the LoC nucleus can achieve precise altitude control in robo-pigeons,providing new insights for advancing the control of flight animal–robot systems in real-world applications.
