Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation
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...
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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Research |
| Online Access: | https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0632 |
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| author | Ke Fang Zhouyi Wang Yezhong Tang Xiaofei Guo Xing Li Wenbo Wang Bing Liu Zhendong Dai |
| author_facet | Ke Fang Zhouyi Wang Yezhong Tang Xiaofei Guo Xing Li Wenbo Wang Bing Liu Zhendong Dai |
| author_sort | Ke Fang |
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| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8dc8a9efe374883a2386e46471385ea |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2639-5274 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8dc8a9efe374883a2386e46471385ea2025-08-20T01:56:49ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Research2639-52742025-01-01810.34133/research.0632Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus NeurostimulationKe Fang0Zhouyi Wang1Yezhong Tang2Xiaofei Guo3Xing Li4Wenbo Wang5Bing Liu6Zhendong Dai7Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.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.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0632 |
| spellingShingle | Ke Fang Zhouyi Wang Yezhong Tang Xiaofei Guo Xing Li Wenbo Wang Bing Liu Zhendong Dai Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation Research |
| title | Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation |
| title_full | Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation |
| title_fullStr | Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation |
| title_short | Dynamically Controlled Flight Altitudes in Robo-Pigeons via Locus Coeruleus Neurostimulation |
| title_sort | dynamically controlled flight altitudes in robo pigeons via locus coeruleus neurostimulation |
| url | https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0632 |
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