Autonomous systems like drones, self-driving cars, and robots are becoming more integrated into daily life, yet they often struggle to “see” clearly in varied conditions—whether it’s bright sunlight, low light, or busy, complex backgrounds. Remarkably, nature may hold the solution.
Cats are renowned for their impressive vision in both daylight and darkness. Their eyes are specially adapted: during the day, vertical slit-shaped pupils help them focus sharply and reduce glare. At night, these pupils widen to allow in more light, while a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum enhances their night vision, giving their eyes that distinct glow.
A group of Korean researchers led by Professor Young Min Song from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) designed a new vision system that uses an advanced lens and sensors inspired by feline eyes. The system includes a slit-like aperture that, like a cat’s vertical pupil, helps filter unnecessary light and focus on key objects. It also uses a special reflective layer similar to the one found in cat eyes that improves visibility in low-light conditions.
This research was published recently in the journal Science Advances and represents a significant advancement in artificial vision systems, demonstrating enhanced object detection and recognition capabilities and positioning it at the forefront of technological breakthroughs in autonomous robotics.
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