Researchers at two British universities are working on a project to create a simulated bee brain to implant in flying robots. Robots with the developed sensory systems would be able to perform rescue missions or mechanically pollinate crops, the BBC reported.
The project, which is led by Dr. James Marshall, a computer scientist at the University of Sheffield, with collaboration from the University of Sussex, will work towards developing computer models of honeybee's neural system that controls vision and sense of smell.
Marshall, who leads the $1.3 million "Green Brain" project, told the BBC that past attempts to recreate biological brains were among the "major challenges" of artificial intelligence and normally focused on humans, mice and monkeys. However, Marshall said, "simpler organisms such as social insects have surprisingly advanced cognitive abilities."
"Because the honeybee brain is smaller and more accessible than any vertebrate brain, we hope to eventually to be able to produce an accurate and complete model that we can test within a flying robot," Marshall told the BBC.
According to the BBC, honeybees have an innate ability to find their way back to their colony or hive. Researchers hope to tap into those abilities to make flying robots make autonomous decisions rather than pre-programmed ones.
The simulated sensory systems will run on a collection of graphics cards, the BBC reported. The powerful graphics cards, or graphical processing unit, will then carry out calculations needed to simulate bee brains.
NBC News reported that the project may contribute to the development of mechanical pollinators or even lead to discoveries on what is causing honeybee populations worldwide to decline.
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