A micro-sensor based on insect vision

A major problem faced by artificial vision systems is the computational bottleneck. The problem can be addressed by incorporating preliminary parallel signal processing in the sensor itself, thereby alleviating subsequent processing requirements. The authors describe a vision system implemented in analog and digital VLSI incorporating sensors and a processing unit. It extracts information such as range, depth and motion of objects in the visual environment. Advantages are its small size and its wide dynamic range which make it very suitable for real-life applications, particularly in robotics.