It has very simple eyes that can detect the direction of light, and, if I understand correctly each eye has two cells: a photoreceptor cell and a pigment cell, though it is not quite clear to me how these work together. It also has and feet-like cilia on each side of its body that allow it to move through the water.
What, do you think, would be the control theory architecture of the Zooplankton?
Could it be a two-level control system? The lower level has one control system for each side controlling a perception of light level, if there is error then the output is to flap the cilia. The top level has one system for controlling the relative perceptions of the two lower systems, if there is error, that is if the perceptions from below are not equal, then the output changes which then changes the references for the for the systems below. this continues until the system stabilises without error, which represents a position within maximum light reception.
Or is it too simple for a control system? Is it just an input-output system where the degree of flapping is a (inverse) function of the amount of light?
It has very simple eyes that can detect the direction of light, and, if I understand correctly each eye has two cells: a photoreceptor cell and a pigment cell, though it is not quite clear to me how these work together. It also has and feet-like cilia on each side of its body that allow it to move through the water.
What, do you think, would be the control theory architecture of the Zooplankton?
Could it be a two-level control system? The lower level has one control system for each side controlling a perception of light level, if there is error then the output is to flap the cilia. The top level has one system for controlling the relative perceptions of the two lower systems, if there is error, that is if the perceptions from below are not equal, then the output changes which then changes the references for the for the systems below. this continues until the system stabilises without error, which represents a position within maximum light reception.
Or is it too simple for a control system? Is it just an input-output system where the degree of flapping is a (inverse) function of the amount of light?
RM: I haven’t read the whole article but based on what I’ve seen so far this looks like a living example of a Braitenberg vehicle. Look it up. These are vehicles with two light sensors as eyes.They are called S-R systems because they simply turn in response to the relative intensity of light at each sensor. But they are closed loop control systems with default references of zero for the difference in intensity of the light at the two sensors. The physical feedback connection from movement to differential intensity at the sensors is what keeps the loop stable. I bet it should be easy to write a program (or build a lego simulation) of the behavior of these zooplankton.
Very cool find.
Best
Rick
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It has very simple eyes that can detect the direction of light, and, if I understand correctly each eye has two cells: a photoreceptor cell and a pigment cell, though it is not quite clear to me how these work together. It also has and feet-like cilia on each side of its body that allow it to move through the water.
What, do you think, would be the control theory architecture of the Zooplankton?
Could it be a two-level control system? The lower level has one control system for each side controlling a perception of light level, if there is error then the output is to flap the cilia. The top level has one system for controlling the relative perceptions of the two lower systems, if there is error, that is if the perceptions from below are not equal, then the output changes which then changes the references for the for the systems below. this continues until the system stabilises without error, which represents a position within maximum light reception.
Or is it too simple for a control system? Is it just an input-output system where the degree of flapping is a (inverse) function of the amount of light?