@article{latif_whitmire_novak_bozkurt_2016, title={Sound Localization Sensors for Search and Rescue Biobots}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1558-1748"]}, DOI={10.1109/jsen.2015.2477443}, abstractNote={Recent advances in neural engineering have enabled direct control of insect locomotion through neural and muscular stimulation. The resulting insect biobots, with a natural ability to crawl through small spaces, offer unique advantages over traditional synthetic robots. A cyberphysical network of such biobots could prove useful for search and rescue applications in uncertain disaster environments. We present a vision-based automated system for an objective assessment of biobotic navigation capability on Madagascar hissing cockroaches. We report the most precise control results obtained with insect biobots so far both manually and autonomously. We also demonstrate autonomous control capability where a low-power insect-mounted array of microphones was used to localize a sound source and guide the biobot toward it. Forming a wireless mobile sensor network with directional and omnidirectional microphones distributed within the structure of a rubble pile could be useful for both environmental mapping and localization of trapped survivors under the rubble.}, number={10}, journal={IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL}, author={Latif, Tahmid and Whitmire, Eric and Novak, Tristan and Bozkurt, Alper}, year={2016}, month={May}, pages={3444–3453} }
 @article{bozkurt_lobaton_sichitiu_hedrick_latif_dirafzoon_whitmire_verderber_marin_xiong_et al._2014, title={Biobotic Insect Swarm based Sensor Networks for Search and Rescue}, volume={9091}, ISSN={["1996-756X"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2053906}, DOI={10.1117/12.2053906}, abstractNote={The potential benefits of distributed robotics systems in applications requiring situational awareness, such as search-and-rescue in emergency situations, are indisputable. The efficiency of such systems requires robotic agents capable of coping with uncertain and dynamic environmental conditions. For example, after an earthquake, a tremendous effort is spent for days to reach to surviving victims where robotic swarms or other distributed robotic systems might play a great role in achieving this faster. However, current technology falls short of offering centimeter scale mobile agents that can function effectively under such conditions. Insects, the inspiration of many robotic swarms, exhibit an unmatched ability to navigate through such environments while successfully maintaining control and stability. We have benefitted from recent developments in neural engineering and neuromuscular stimulation research to fuse the locomotory advantages of insects with the latest developments in wireless networking technologies to enable biobotic insect agents to function as search-and-rescue agents. Our research efforts towards this goal include development of biobot electronic backpack technologies, establishment of biobot tracking testbeds to evaluate locomotion control efficiency, investigation of biobotic control strategies with Gromphadorhina portentosa cockroaches and Manduca sexta moths, establishment of a localization and communication infrastructure, modeling and controlling collective motion by learning deterministic and stochastic motion models, topological motion modeling based on these models, and the development of a swarm robotic platform to be used as a testbed for our algorithms.}, journal={SIGNAL PROCESSING, SENSOR/INFORMATION FUSION, AND TARGET RECOGNITION XXIII}, publisher={SPIE}, author={Bozkurt, A. and Lobaton, E. and Sichitiu, Mihail L. and Hedrick, T. and Latif, T. and Dirafzoon, A. and Whitmire, E. and Verderber, A. and Marin, J. and Xiong, H. and et al.}, editor={Kadar, IvanEditor}, year={2014} }
 @inproceedings{dieffenderfer_beppler_novak_whitmire_jayakumar_randall_qu_rajagopalan_bozkurt_2014, title={Solar powered wrist worn acquisition system for continuous photoplethysmogram monitoring}, DOI={10.1109/embc.2014.6944289}, abstractNote={We present a solar-powered, wireless, wrist-worn platform for continuous monitoring of physiological and environmental parameters during the activities of daily life. In this study, we demonstrate the capability to produce photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals using this platform. To adhere to a low power budget for solar-powering, a 574nm green light source is used where the PPG from the radial artery would be obtained with minimal signal conditioning. The system incorporates two monocrystalline solar cells to charge the onboard 20mAh lithium polymer battery. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is used to tether the device to a smartphone that makes the phone an access point to a dedicated server for long term continuous storage of data. Two power management schemes have been proposed depending on the availability of solar energy. In low light situations, if the battery is low, the device obtains a 5-second PPG waveform every minute to consume an average power of 0.57 mW. In scenarios where the battery is at a sustainable voltage, the device is set to enter its normal 30 Hz acquisition mode, consuming around 13.7 mW. We also present our efforts towards improving the charge storage capacity of our on-board super-capacitor.}, booktitle={2014 36th annual international conference of the ieee engineering in medicine and biology society (embc)}, author={Dieffenderfer, J. P. and Beppler, E. and Novak, T. and Whitmire, E. and Jayakumar, R. and Randall, C. and Qu, W. G. and Rajagopalan, R. and Bozkurt, A.}, year={2014}, pages={3142–3145} }
 @inproceedings{latif_whitmire_novak_bozkurt_2014, title={Towards fenceless boundaries for solar powered insect biobots}, DOI={10.1109/embc.2014.6943927}, abstractNote={Demonstration of remote navigation with instrumented insects, such as the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa, has enabled the concept of biobotic agents for search and rescue missions and environmental monitoring applications. The biobots can form the nodes of a mobile sensor network to be established, for example, in unknown and dynamic environments after natural disasters to pinpoint surviving victims. We demonstrate here, for the first time, the concept of an invisible fence for insect biobots with an ultimate goal of keeping insect biobots within a certain distance of each other or a base station to ensure a reliable wireless network. For extended mission durations, this fenceless boundary would also be used to guide insects towards light sources for autonomous solar charging of their on-board batteries.}, booktitle={2014 36th annual international conference of the ieee engineering in medicine and biology society (embc)}, author={Latif, T. and Whitmire, E. and Novak, T. and Bozkurt, A.}, year={2014}, pages={1670–1673} }