Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) researchers are unraveling the secrets of the fruit fly brain to advance robotics.
A team from the institution’s Neuroengineering Laboratory have used optogenetics—light to control neurons—to study how brain signals drive movement. By replicating the fly’s neural circuitry, they aim to create robotic systems that mimic its agility.
A key milestone includes a digital twin that simulates the insect’s behavior, offering insights into how descending neurons from the brain control motor functions.
According to the researchers, their work bridges neuroscience and robotics, using tiny insects to inspire advanced machine intelligence.
Mapping motor networks
The group investigated how particular command-like…