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.