Motion detection is a very important elementary task performed on the visual input received from eyes in both vertebrates and invertebrates like insects. In this work we describe a VLSI implementation of a biologically inspired elementary motion detector. This sensor is based on the Adelson-Bergen algorithm, designed to model the response of a primate cortical complex cell. We first describe the model in detail and then explain the circuit level details of the implementation of the model. Results from the characterization of the chip are presented.
We then describe two applications based on this motion sensor. The first application is an active tracking system using the sensor. The second application is the design of a chip, RoaCh (Robot on a Chip). RoaCh is a monolithic implementation of the motion detector along with a control system to navigate a robot whose objective is to run away from moving targets surrounding it. We also describe the details of the modeling of an early visual pathway in the fly brain, which is thought to be involved in motion computation.
Sudhir Korrapati, "An Analog VLSI Motion Energy Sensor and its Applications in System Level Robotic Design," MS thesis (advisor: Charles M. Higgins), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Arizona, August 2001.