Drones, robots and self-driving cars could dodge accidents in future thanks to a new sensor inspired by the collision avoidance neurons of swarming locusts. Flying locusts travel in swarms of millions at 2–3 miles an hour -- but are capable of making evasive manoeuvres within just hundreds of milliseconds to avoid collisions. Researchers from the US have developed an electronic version of a special neuron, unique to locusts, that allows them to react rapidly without using much energy. Unlike current collision sensors for self-driving cars -- which tend to be bulky and heavy -- the insect-inspired detector is tiny and can respond in just two seconds. 'We are always looking for animals with unusual abilities, ones that do something better than humans,' said paper author and engineer Saptarshi Das of the Pennsylvania State University.

Scientists have created a revolutionary technology that could save countless lives by preventing car crashes, and it is inspired by locusts. The insects have an early warning system which helps them avoid colliding with each other when flying in swarms at high speed. Researchers have adopted key features of the locusts' system to develop a computer system which could become a blueprint for highly-accurate collision sensors in cars. Scientists at the University of Lincoln created a collision sensor for cars (pictured) after being inspired by locusts' anti-collision systems Professor Shigang Yue and Dr Claire Rind of the University of Lincoln were inspired by the unique way locusts process electrical and chemical signals in their brain. Professor Yue said: 'We created a system inspired by the locusts' motion sensitive interneuron - the lobula giant movement detector.