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Development of a robotic system to study the behavior of ants in trees
The objective of this project is to conceive and develop a robotic tool to study the behavior of ants in forests. The system will release sugar droplets to attract ants while cameras will monitor their behaviour.
Invertebrates are the most dominant component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and play vital roles in ecosystem functioning. However, the study of invertebrates in their natural ecosystem is still an open challenge.
We want to develop a robotic system to study the symbiotic relationship between two insect species – ants and aphids. The symbiotic relationship between these two organisms provides protection for the aphids and food for the ants. Aphids are sucking animals that feed on the sap of plants and secrete a sugary substance called honeydew. This sticky liquid is the favorite food source for ants. Ants protect the aphids from predators, such as lacewings or ladybugs.
The goal of this project is to conceive and develop a “smart feeding station” that can be placed on trees to attract ants and study their behavior in the natural environment. The feeding station will consist of a hydraulic system that releases sugary droplets akin to aphids, and sensors for tracking ants and monitoring their behavior. We want to use this system to observe the ants’ response to different stimuli from the feeding stations (e.g., quantity of droplets provided, level of sugar concentration in the droplets or quality of the sugar).
Invertebrates are the most dominant component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and play vital roles in ecosystem functioning. However, the study of invertebrates in their natural ecosystem is still an open challenge. We want to develop a robotic system to study the symbiotic relationship between two insect species – ants and aphids. The symbiotic relationship between these two organisms provides protection for the aphids and food for the ants. Aphids are sucking animals that feed on the sap of plants and secrete a sugary substance called honeydew. This sticky liquid is the favorite food source for ants. Ants protect the aphids from predators, such as lacewings or ladybugs.
The goal of this project is to conceive and develop a “smart feeding station” that can be placed on trees to attract ants and study their behavior in the natural environment. The feeding station will consist of a hydraulic system that releases sugary droplets akin to aphids, and sensors for tracking ants and monitoring their behavior. We want to use this system to observe the ants’ response to different stimuli from the feeding stations (e.g., quantity of droplets provided, level of sugar concentration in the droplets or quality of the sugar).
The robotic system will consist of three main subsystems: (i) a mechanical structure where the different components are integrated, (ii) a series of feeding stations with a hydraulic system to distribute the sugary solution, (iii) a sensory system based on cameras and/or proximity sensors to record/track moving ants.
**Work packages**
- Familiarize with the problem in collaboration with WSL partners
- Literature review of related work
- Formalization of the system requirements
- Development of the feeding station for ants
- Development of the hydraulic system for the controlled distribution of the sugary solution
- Development of the sensory system for tracking the ants in proximity to the feeding station
- Integration and testing
**Requirements**
- Experience in mechanism design and prototyping
- Experience in prototyping electronic systems
- Experience in vision systems
- High motivation and interest in the topic
- Methodological and goal-oriented working behavior
The robotic system will consist of three main subsystems: (i) a mechanical structure where the different components are integrated, (ii) a series of feeding stations with a hydraulic system to distribute the sugary solution, (iii) a sensory system based on cameras and/or proximity sensors to record/track moving ants.
**Work packages** - Familiarize with the problem in collaboration with WSL partners - Literature review of related work - Formalization of the system requirements - Development of the feeding station for ants - Development of the hydraulic system for the controlled distribution of the sugary solution - Development of the sensory system for tracking the ants in proximity to the feeding station - Integration and testing
**Requirements** - Experience in mechanism design and prototyping - Experience in prototyping electronic systems - Experience in vision systems - High motivation and interest in the topic - Methodological and goal-oriented working behavior
Please send a motivation statement, and a copy of your CV and transcript to:
- Stefano Mintchev (stefano.mintchev@usys.ethz.ch)
Please send a motivation statement, and a copy of your CV and transcript to: - Stefano Mintchev (stefano.mintchev@usys.ethz.ch)