A group of researchers from EPFL and four other universities devised an interesting experiment—have two animal species, which normally don’t cross paths, interact and reach a shared decision, all through the helpful efforts of robots.
Bees and fish participated in the experiment. The bees were located in a laboratory in Gratz, Austria, while Lausanne, Switzerland, was home to the fish. Although situated far apart, robots were able to bridge the 700-km gap, transmitting signals back and forth between the two groups.
“We created an unprecedented bridge between the two animal communities, enabling them to exchange some of their dynamics,” says Frank Bonnet, a researcher at EPFL’s Mobile Robots Group (MOBOTS).
The Robotic Infiltrators
The fish were joined by a robotic fish, all placed together in a doughnut-shaped tank. Similarly, the bees interacted with two robot terminals, located on either end of a platform. The robots in each animal group sent out signals specific to that species.
According to EPFL, “The robot in the school of fish emitted both visual signals—in terms of different shapes, colors, and stripes—and behavioral signals—like accelerations, vibrations, and tail movements. The robots in the bee colony emitted signals mainly in the form of vibrations, temperature variations, and air movements.”
For the experiment, each species had a decision to make. The fish could choose whether to swim in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction, and the bees could decide which terminal to swarm around.
Connecting the Minds of Bees and Fish
The robots recorded group dynamics, connected remotely, exchanged information, “and then translated the information received into signals appropriate for the corresponding species,” according to EPFL.
This means that when the bees chose to swarm around one of the two terminals, the decision was sent to the robot fish, which “interpreted the news as more fish choosing a swimming direction—clockwise or counterclockwise,” according to The Scientist. On the other hand, when the fish agreed on a direction to swim, the robot fist sent that info to the robot bee, which ultimately translated to the colony that more bees wanted to go to a specific terminal.
“The robots acted as if they were negotiators and interpreters in an international conference,” says Francesco Mondada, a professor at BioRob.
The Communication Results
When left to their own devices, the fish would often reverse swimming direction, while the bees would pick a terminal to swarm around after about 15 minutes, The Scientist reports. However, when the team allowed just the bees to communicate with the fish, the fish swam in a certain direction for a longer period of time. And when the fish only communicated with the bees, the bees were indecisive for the entire trial period.
Next, the team tested two-way communication. The team notes that at first, the conversation between the two was all over the place. However, after 25 minutes, they synchronized and came to a shared decision, with the fish swimming counterclockwise along the path and the bees swarming around one specific terminal.
“The species even started adopting some of each other’s characteristics. The bees became a little more restless and less likely to swarm together than usual, and the fish started to group together more than they usually would,” Bonnet says.
From a biological standpoint, the research could help biologists further their knowledge of animal behavior and group interactions. In addition, systems could be developed that can interact directly with animals. For example, scientists can direct birds away from hazardous locations, like airports. In the same vein, pollinators can be steered away from pesticide-ridden crops and toward organic pastures.
To learn more, read the article, “Robots mediating interactions between animals for interspecies collective behaviors,” published in Science Robotics.