Synthesis of the pheromone-oriented behaviour of silkworm moths by a mobile robot with moth antennae as pheromone sensors

The authors have studied the emergent mechanism in insect behavior by using a robotic system. Since insects have a simpler nervous system than humans, it is an appropriate model for clarifying the above mechanism. In this study, the pheromone oriented behavior of male silkworm moths was shown by a pheromone-guided mobile robot which had male moth antennae that can detect sex pheromones. This study focuses on the pheromone sensor that used antennae from a living moth. Since the antennae of silkworm moths are very sensitive as compared to artificial gas sensors, they can be used as living gas sensors that can detect pheromone molecules.