There are about forty pigeons in the pigeon cage, including domestic pigeons and carrier pigeons. Pointing to several pigeons with red bumps on their heads, the researchers explained that this is a "robot bird" developed by the center, and the object on their heads is the biggest difference between it and ordinary pigeons. When the researchers opened the pigeon cage, several perched "robot pigeons" saw the camera in the reporter's hand and immediately cooed around to avoid it. It seems that their sensitive reaction is no different from that of a few ordinary homing pigeons next to them.
Dr. Liu Xiaofeng, a member of the "Robot Bird" research project team and the Robot Research Center of Shandong University of Science and Technology, said that it was called a robot bird because microelectrodes were implanted in specific nerve positions in the brains of these pigeons through surgery, and this red thing similar to a cockscomb was a dental cement for fixation. In the experiment, a micro-stimulus generator is plugged into the power supply of the pigeon's head, and the computer sends out instructions for the pigeon to make relevant actions according to the instructions. Usually, these pigeons live in pigeon cages like ordinary homing pigeons and domestic pigeons, and even reproduce. Not long ago, a "robot bird" hatched a little pigeon here.
In the laboratory, Dr. Liu also gave a virtual demonstration of the general process of the operation to reporters. First, anesthetize pigeons, remove a dime-sized scalp from the top of their heads, then open their skulls and implant microelectrodes. The location of the implant depends on the need, and it is a specific nerve nucleus. Finally, it was fixed with dental cement. After 7 days of rehabilitation, this quasi-robot bird can be put into experiment at any time.
Listen to the instructions and follow "8" along the red line.
The researchers said that from the end of 2005, the Robotics Research Center of Shandong University of Science and Technology began the research of the National Natural Science Foundation project "Robot Bird". In more than a year, more than 400 pigeons have participated in the experiment. At present, the robot bird can move forward, turn left, turn right and take off forcibly under the instruction of computer code imposed by human beings, and the experiment has been successful.
Due to the winter vacation, the research team members of the project have not arrived yet, and the researchers present can't demonstrate and direct the "robot birds" to do actions on the spot, but the reporter saw several "robot birds" connected to the micro-stimulus generator through video.
The reporter saw that almost at the same time that the computer gave instructions, the "robot pigeon" wearing a "red crown" began to enter the state: the scientific research personnel clicked the signal of forced take-off on the computer, and a flashing red light was overhead. A pigeon stepped forward on the ground, suddenly flapped its wings and flew up. After circling the roof for a week, it landed on a pool in the corner. Under the instruction of the researchers to move forward, turn left and turn right, a pigeon's two thin legs also began to stride in the middle of the field, leaving the "8" route along a red line. The other pigeon is carrying a micro-stimulus generator on its back, which keeps turning and flashing red light.
Dr. Liu explained that the computer sends the pre-programmed coded signal to a wireless remote controller, and then the wireless remote controller sends the signal. After receiving the signal, the micro-stimulus generator connected to the pigeon, which is the size of a dollar coin, stimulates the nerve part of the pigeon through electrodes, and the pigeon can make related actions according to the instructions.