Experimental Studies on Target Detection, Evaluation and Interception by Echolocating Bats

Item

Title
Experimental Studies on Target Detection, Evaluation and Interception by Echolocating Bats
Date
1965
Index Abstract
Not Available
Photo Quality
Complete
Report Number
AMRL TR 65-172
Creator
Webster, Frederic A.
Brazier, Oliver G.
Corporate Author
Sensory Systems Lab Tucson Ariz
Laboratory
Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories
Extent
144
Identifier
AD0628055
Access Rights
Distribution of this document is unlimited.
Distribution Classification
1
Contract
AF 33(615)-1142
DoD Project
7233 - Biological Information Handling Systems and Their Functional Analogs
DoD Task
723302 - Biological Servomechanisms
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
None
Abstract
The echolocation techniques of bats provide functioning models with useful attributes: versatility of application, ultra-miniaturization of components, and processing methods capable of dealing rapidly and reliably with complex echo indications despite the inherent slowness of unit neural components. Present experiments, carried out on captive bats trained to catch natural and artificial targets projected into their flight paths, have quantified certain basic measures of performance. Spheres as small as 1/16 inch diameter were detected and localized at two or more feet, with resulting interceptions being accomplished in 1/4 second. Final localization accuracies of 1 cubic centimeter were sometimes achieved, even when resolution of up to 16 nearby targets was required. Massive or complex clutter backgrounds tended to reduce interception performance at short target-to-clutter distances, but some interceptions were accurately completed during actual contact with natural twigs or goliage; or when pursuit paths had to be radically adapted to background configurations. Interception scores for food targets sometimes exceeded 99% while like-size negative targets of a different shape could be correctly discriminated roughly 95% of the time. Failure to make proper evaluation of trajectories tended to produce extensions of the terminal pursuit signal; but such modifications were not significantly incresed in most clutter situations.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1965-11
Provenance
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control
Type
report
Format
1 online resource
Media
AMRLTR65-172.pdf