Analog Integrated Circuit for Motion Detection of Approaching Object Based on the Insect Visual System

A network for detection of an approaching object was proposed and fabricated based on the transient response of a descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) existing in the brain of locusts. The proposed network was constructed with simple analog circuits. The experimental results of a test chip fabricated with a 1.2 $mUm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process and the results with a simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis (SPICE) showed that the proposed network is able to detect the approach by generating a peak current just before collision; the peak current allows detection of the approaching velocity and direction without collision. The proposed network could be applied to two-dimensional arrays for three-dimensional motion detection.