HLL Modelling, Visualisation and Software Engineering: Development of an Interactive GUI for Worm Simulator
Code of project: 2010-03
Project Supervisors: Dr Netta Cohen if you are interested in this project
Area of interest: This project is linked to the Biosystems Research Group, but involves primarily machine vision and real time hardware interfacing.
Appropriate for degree programmes: All single and joint honours students from the School of Computing
Pre-requisites: Some programming experience is needed. Further information about the prerequisites for this project is available from Dr Netta Cohen.
Project Outline
To understand the locomotion of worms, it is important to gain a better
understanding of how the relevant part of the nervous system acts. Our existing
model of the worm's locomotion includes multiple layers:
- a model of the neural control system,
- a model of the muscles and physical body and
- a physical model of the environment.
- A preliminary framework for a GUI for running and modifying the model
This project will develop the GUI further,
(1) to run simulations and dynamically interact with them,
(2) to implement novel environments in which the worm may navigate (in 2D) and
(3) to visualise simulation results (e.g., nerve cell and muscle activity) in real time.
(4) In parallel, an XML modelling framework will be developed for existing simulation models.
The project is ideally suited for someone with interests in real time programming and/or image analysis/computer vision and/or in the study of biological systems. The student will be fully immersed in the Biosystems group for the duration of the project.