AUTHOR=von Arnim Axel , Lecomte Jules , Borras Naima Elosegui , Woźniak Stanisław , Pantazi Angeliki TITLE=Dynamic event-based optical identification and communication JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurorobotics VOLUME=18 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurorobotics/articles/10.3389/fnbot.2024.1290965 DOI=10.3389/fnbot.2024.1290965 ISSN=1662-5218 ABSTRACT=

Optical identification is often done with spatial or temporal visual pattern recognition and localization. Temporal pattern recognition, depending on the technology, involves a trade-off between communication frequency, range, and accurate tracking. We propose a solution with light-emitting beacons that improves this trade-off by exploiting fast event-based cameras and, for tracking, sparse neuromorphic optical flow computed with spiking neurons. The system is embedded in a simulated drone and evaluated in an asset monitoring use case. It is robust to relative movements and enables simultaneous communication with, and tracking of, multiple moving beacons. Finally, in a hardware lab prototype, we demonstrate for the first time beacon tracking performed simultaneously with state-of-the-art frequency communication in the kHz range.