Biomimetic navigation of complex environments

Living and robotic systems share the need and the challenge of navigating complex environments. Notable natural examples are provided by the tracking of surface-bound trails of odor cues, long-distance orientation by using airborne olfactory cues, and flight in the lowest layers of the atmosphere. On the biological side, terrestrial animals, insects, and birds evolved navigation strategies that accomplish the above tasks with an efficiency that is often surprising and yet unmatched. On the robotic side, olfactory sniffers and unmanned aerial vehicles face similar challenges. In addition to basic scientific motivations, technological applications range from the automated location of explosives, chemical, and toxic leaks, to the monitoring of biodiversity, surveillance, disaster relief, cargo transport, and agriculture. The interdisciplinary interplay between biology, physics, and robotics is key to jointly advancing fundamental understanding and technology. I shall review the above natural phenomena, then discuss the physics that constrains and shapes the navigation tasks, and conclude with the relevant strategies.