Lobster eyes and unexpected applications in X-ray technology

It is hard to believe that lobster is not just a luxurious dish. A series of amazing radiology applications have been built based on lobster eye architecture.

X-ray application based on lobster eye architecture

What makes such special X-ray applications from lobster comes from the super-special vision system of lobster . If this architecture is applied to X-ray machines, the construction of a view-through lens (including steel walls) is no longer a remote thing.

The problem of traditional X-ray devices

Perhaps we are no stranger to conventional X-ray devices. The principle of creating a common image of X-ray spectroscopy devices is X-rays that, after piercing the object, go into a collector . These rays are called refracted rays. Based on the intensity of the attenuated X-ray (due to the material of different objects), an X-ray image of the subject to be captured is available. Such as X-ray film at the hospital.

These X-ray systems have some very obvious disadvantages . The first is the refracted rays after piercing through the object, running disorderly. This inadvertently makes optical devices very difficult to get accurate images, thanks to the help of very complex image processing algorithms. The next downside is to limit refractive rays affecting image quality, people increase the intensity of X-ray in ordinary devices to extremely high, aiming to give the clearest picture in the rays straight transmission. Obviously high energy X-ray devices are not safe for humans.

What is the visual system of lobster in particular?

"The human visual system works on refractive images" - this is the knowledge that can be found in any popular textbook. However, the lobster's visual system is completely based on reflex.

Illustration of lobster visual system

The lobster's visual system consists of a network of thousands of squares. The role of this lobster eye mesh is completely different from the human eye: only receiving incoming light rays that are close to parallel to the reflecting surface - the wall of the lobster net. Thanks to this feature, the incident light rays are almost completely reflected from the reflector units to the retina (retina - the point of light that captures the signal image). With this structure, lobster eyes can gain more light than other organisms. This is the reason why lobsters can still be observed in the light environment under thick mud.

With such an ideal feature, readers will surely be amazed by a long list of applications of X-ray equipment simulating the " lobster eye " architecture .

LEXID - X-ray device built on the "lobster eye" architecture

The classic device simulating the "lobster eye" architecture is the X-ray imaging machine LEXID (Lobster Eye X-ray Imaging Device). LEXID's operating principle differs from regular X-ray machines: instead of creating images from X-ray rays passing through the object, LEXID creates images based on X-rays scattered back from the subject. Similar to lobster eyes, LEXID focuses on capturing X-ray signals bounced back from the subject into one focus point. This ability makes LEXID's accuracy very high. By using LEXID, experts can see through concrete, wood, or even 7.5 cm thick steel walls. From the operational principle, we can see that LEXID is far more energy-efficient than conventional X-ray types due to its activity based on scattered beams (essentially, creating costly beams of X-rays. more energy).

The X-ray devices that simulate lobster eye architecture are so attractive that the US National Security Bureau has invested $ 1 million in cross-wall X-ray devices manufactured according to the "lobster eye" principle. . According to senior officers of the US National Security Bureau, owning devices that look across the wall will reinforce the power of the terrorist force.

X-ray equipment simulating the "lobster eye" architecture can also be substituted for bulky luggage scanners. The mobility of the "lobster eye" X-ray device is very mobile in emergency searches, or on the battlefield.

These bulky security devices like this probably won't be widely used when LEXID becomes popular

Not only useful for the National Security Bureau, lobster X-ray machines also have dozens of applications for common users : construction engineers can know exactly behind the wall, or under the floor. there are some things. Archaeologists also save a lot of time to eliminate places that should not be searched. Doctors and nurses can also remove bulky vests when undergoing radiological surgeries.

"Lobster eye" X-ray devices bring great value to astronomy. For example, one of the pride of space astronauts - Lobster-IIS telescope - is considered " the embodiment of God " with unprecedented special abilities. Using Lobster-IIS, astronomers can casually observe supernatural phenomena such as supernovae, the operation of cosmic black holes. Lobster-IIS is also expected to be the torch to enlighten the secrets of " dark matter".