: Built using Python and the Robot Operating System ( ROS ) for interprocess communication. đź“ť Blog Post Draft: Mastering Real-Time Neural Control
We believe in open science. The entire system is built on:
The system operates on a dual-camera setup. A wide-angle camera maintains a lock on the fly's global position within the arena, while a second, high-magnification camera targets specific anatomical regions. By utilizing Thorlabs 2D galvanometers, we can steer a laser to deliver precise optogenetic or thermogenetic stimulation—all while the fly moves freely.
: Two cameras (wide-field for tracking and high-magnification for targeting).
The primary language for our tracking and targeting logic. OpenCV: Utilized for high-speed computer vision.
In the world of neurogenetics, timing is everything. To understand how specific neurons drive behavior, researchers
At lower frame rates, the latency between a fly moving and the laser adjusting can lead to "misses." By pushing our image processing and control logic to 120fps , we reduce this lag significantly. This allows for sub-0.2mm precision, ensuring that the light or heat is applied exactly where intended, whether that's the thorax or the head.