A HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF A BIOLOGICAL NEURAL SYSTEM FOR TARGET LOCALIZATION

The optical axes in an array of photoreceptors in the eyes of mantis s hrimps have a particular skewing pattern that provides the animal with a monocular distance evaluation. A hardware (HW) device for target re cognition was built based on the mathematical model of the biological visual system. The pattern of inputs was simulated by an array of glas s fibers connected to phototransistors. In the biological system input s are picked up by an integrating nerve fiber, in the HW model by an R C network with compartmental threshold devices. The network state is r ead by a host PC through an array of threshold comparators. The output consists of pulse patterns that can be generated either by a simulati on program or in the HW itself. The system can be used as a selective distance/motion detector and can be employed in several applications i nvolving target detection or obstacle avoidance.