About

The MicroTracking project aims to develop computer vision and artificial intelligence tools for the behavioral analysis of microscopical animals. The project is born out of the necessity in biology, particularly in entomology, for new technologies that allow the generation of more extensive and reliable data sets while freeing valuable human resources. Data collection for animal behavior studies has traditionally been a manual procedure performed by human experts. Depending on the type of study, each experimental trial can last anything from minutes to hours, or even days. A standard behavioral observation session requires the expert to pay close attention to the animal(s) in real-time and generate a record of the behavioral events. To ease this task, biologists mainly recur to two technological aids—first, video cameras to observe the experiments on a monitor instead of directly on the microscope, and second, specialized software that binds hotkeys with the register of focal behaviors on a database.

The MicroTracking project visualizes a series of independent modules that will automate, at different levels, various aspects of the behavioral analysis. The modules will be aggregated to automate the behavioral analysis from beginning to end.

A number of topics for theses, social service, and modular projects are available for students. If you are a Master or Bachelor student, check out the open topics, and get in touch with us if you are interested.