Robots Reveal Secrets Behind Animal Navigation: IIT Mandi Study.. This can empower search and rescue operations. 

MANDI, 26th August 2024:  Scientists at IIT Mandi have taken a big step forward in cracking the code of how animals, like homing pigeons and sea turtles, always find their way back home, even when they wander far off track.

And they’ve done it using small, smart robots!

The study found that a mix of randomness in their movements and a few well-timed resets helps these robots, and possibly animals too, get home more efficiently.

"We discovered that when you throw in a bit of randomness, but not too much, and add some occasional resets, the robots find their way back faster.

This could be a game-changer for developing better autonomous vehicles and improving search and rescue missions," said Dr. Harsh Soni, Assistant Professor at IIT Mandi, who led the study.

Using robots just 7.5 cm wide, equipped with sensors and wheels that let them react to light (like how some animals use environmental cues), the team mimicked the homing behavior seen in nature.

These robots were designed to find the brightest light source, which represented "home."

The results, backed by computer simulations, showed that the key to efficient navigation lies in a balanced blend of randomness and reset moments.

"This isn’t just about robots or animals—what we’re seeing here could also help us understand how cells navigate and function," Dr. Soni added.

The study, published in the journal PRX LIFE, involved a collaboration between IIT Mandi, IIT Bombay, and the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai. Researchers like Dr. Arnab Pal and Mr. Arup Biswas (Institute of Mathematical Sciences), along with Dr. Nitin Kumar and Mr. Somnath Paramanich (IIT Bombay), played crucial roles in this exciting discovery.

This research doesn’t just give us new insights into how animals find their way home, but it might also pave the way for smarter technologies in the future.