Reflections on the application of bionic compound eyes triggered by dragonfly compound eyes

Compound eyes are widely found in insects and other invertebrates, serving as their primary visual organs. The unique structure and function of compound eyes have long captivated the attention of scientists. Taking dragonflies as an example, their exceptional reaction speed and remarkable observation ability can be attributed to the presence of large compound eyes on their heads. In this study, we examined the characteristics and functions of dragonfly compound eyes by observing the diffraction phenomenon on temporary slides, aiming to explore the potential applications of bionics in replicating these features. Our findings revealed that dragonfly compound eyes possess distinctive optical properties including multi-channel imaging, wide-angle field of view, and exceptionally high temporal resolution. Moreover, the neuronal network within these compound eyes enables simultaneous sensing and tracking motions from multiple directions while rapidly and accurately processing optical signals. Therefore, drawing inspiration from both its optical properties and information processing capabilities, we can derive novel ideas for developing artificial compound eyes.