Science Daily April 9, 2019
African Elephantnose fish use two different types of electro-receptors for active electrolocation. One only measures the intensity of the signal, the other the waveform of the pulse. Researchers in Germany showed that the fish uses the ratio of the two readings to identify its prey. This creates “electric colors” analogous to visual colors perceived by the human eye, but through electrical signals instead of visible light. They introduced an image cue, called the ‘electric outline’, which provided information resembling a target’s optical contour. The results indicate that bio-inspired electric imaging principles provide promising cues for sensor-based, short-range object inspections in murky waters. The camera generates a weak electric field around itself and captures the electric images of objects in its environment with several sensors (electrodes) on its surface. Using the camera they measured and characterized various natural objects, such as fish, plants or wood, as well as artificial test objects, such as spheres or rods made of aluminum or plastic…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE