Ruituo Huai

A New Robo-Animals Navigation Method Guided by the Remote Control

A new robo-animal navigation principle and method which is based on virtual punishment and its related techniques including electrodes used, wireless remote control device and stimulation parameters set are introduced in detail in this paper. For this new method, encoding electrical signals with certain parameters are adopted to stimulate the thalamic ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) and amygdale nucleus (AMY) of the rat to guide its behavior and activity. Rats can change directions and escape actively because of feelings of virtual harm depending on the sites of brain stimulation. Compared with previous method based on virtual rewards, much better guide results are obtained, meanwhile minor stimulation intensity is enough and training in advance is no more necessary. Our results validate the feasibility and reliability of this new method. It makes it possible to manufacture robo-animal quantitatively and conveniently. This study will provide new approaches and prospects for investigating roboanimals and will accelerate its development and application.

Modification of Hypoxic Respiratory Response by Protein Tyrosine Kinase in Brainstem Ventral Respiratory Neuron Group.

Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) mediated the tyrosine phosphorylation modification of neuronal receptors and ion channels. Whether such modification resulted in changes of physiological functions was not sufficiently studied. In this study we examined whether the hypoxic respiratory response—which is the enhancement of breathing in hypoxic environment could be affected by the inhibition of PTK at brainstem ventral respiratory neuron column (VRC). Experiments were performed on urethane anesthetized adult rabbits. Phrenic nerve discharge was recorded as the central respiratory motor output. Hypoxic respiratory response was produced by ventilating the rabbit with 10% O2-balance 90% N2 for 5 minutes. The responses of phrenic nerve discharge to hypoxia were observed before and after microinjecting PTK inhibitor genistein, AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX, or inactive PTK inhibitor analogue daidzein at the region of ambiguus nucleus (NA) at levels 0–2 mm rostral to obex where the inspiratory subgroup of VRC were recorded. Results were as follows: 1. the hypoxic respiratory response was significantly attenuated after microinjection of genistein and/or CNQX, and no additive effect (i.e., further attenuation of hypoxic respiratory response) was observed when genistein and CNQX were microinjected one after another at the same injection site. Microinjection of daidzein had no effect on hypoxic respiratory response. 2. Fluorescent immunostaining showed that hypoxia significantly increased the number of phosphotyrosine immunopositive neurons in areas surrounding NA and most of these neurons were also immunopositive to glutamate AMPA receptor subunit GluR1. These results suggested that PTK played an important role in regulating the hypoxic respiratory response, possibly through the tyrosine phosphorylation modification of glutamate AMPA receptors on the respiratory neurons of ventral respiratory neuron column.

Intercollicular nucleus electric stimulation encoded “walk forward” commands in pigeons

The bio-robot research field is growing. Robo-pigeons have been successfully programmed to turn left or right; however, a satisfactory method of commanding a robo-pigeon to walk forward is still lacking. This problem has become a roadblock to progress in bio-robot research and applications. In mammals, the midbrain periaqueductal gray region (PAG) plays a key role in mediating defensive reactions in response to fear and anxiety. The avian intercollicular nucleus (ICo) is thought to correspond to the PAG. In this study, we found that microstimulating the ICo could successfully induce a robo-pigeon to walk forward. Compared with stimulation of the previously used archistriatum, the response time was considerably shorter and the behavior accuracy significantly higher. This paper describes in detail the process of controlling a robo-pigeon such that it walks forward and backward along a prescribed straight line. From the results, we draw the conclusion that the ICo is suitable for prompting the “walk forward” order in robo-pigeons.

Global Positioning System-Based Stimulation for Robo-Pigeons in Open Space

An evaluation method is described that will enable researchers to study fight control characteristics of robo-pigeons in fully open space. It is not limited by the experimental environment and overcomes environmental interference with flight control in small experimental spaces using a compact system. The system consists of two components: a global positioning system (GPS)-based stimulator with dimensions of 38 mm × 26 mm × 8 mm and a weight of 18 g that can easily be carried by a pigeon as a backpack and a PC-based program developed in Virtual C++. The GPS-based stimulator generates variable stimulation and automatically records the GPS data and stimulus parameters. The PC-based program analyzes the recorded data and displays the flight trajectory of the tested robo-pigeon on a digital map. This method enables quick and clear evaluation of the flight control characteristics of a robo-pigeon in open space based on its visual trajectory, as well as further optimization of the microelectric stimulation parameters to improve the design of robo-pigeons. The functional effectiveness of the method was investigated and verified by performing flight control experiments using a robo-pigeon in open space.

The robo-pigeon based on the multiple brain regions synchronization implanted microelectrodes.

ABSTRACT Almost all multichannel microelectrodes are only applied to the same nucleus. The multiple brain regions synchronization implanted microelectrodes can be implanted in the several brain regions at the same time, when used in the robo-animal, which can reduce the operation process, shorten animals operation time. Due to electrode position relatively fixed, errors caused by each separately implanted electrode were reduced and the animal control effect was greatly increased compared to the original electrodes. The electrode fixed time was also extended. This microelectrode provided beneficial reference function for the study of the free state of small animals in different brain regions.

A wireless remote control system applied in roborat research based on Brain-computer interface technology

A wireless remote control system based on Brain-computer interface technology is described. The command produced by PC can be sent to the controller bounded on the back of roborat. Then the controller sends biphasic stimulating pulses to brain to deliver microstimulation. This system is multi-channels, so that it can be applied in different brain control experiments as well as other electrophysiological experiments. Although it is small and light, it is stable and reliable.

Development and Application of the Neuro-stimulation Device

Neuro-stimulation therapy have widely used in the brain stimulation spinal cord stimulation, or muscle incitement to relief the pain, depression, and so on. Neuro-stimulation device mainly contains: implantable neuro-stimulator, non-implantable neuro-stimulator and magnetic stimulator. Implantable neuro-stimulator used in deeply brain stimulation and robo-animal; Non-implantable neuro-stimulator used in neural prostheses; Magnetic stimulator used in the brain and relief depression. This paper review development and application of the neuro-stimulation device and existent problems.