Reconstructing the Visual Field of Compound Eyes

Realistic image synthesis research involves the simulation of visible light propagation within an environment with a view to computing an image that evokes a similar visual response to that perceived by an observer of that environment. This has involved the use of both sophisticated camera response and human visual system response models. In this paper we investigate the application of invertebrate vision models, in particular the vision from compound eyes. We use Apis meliferra (or honey bee) as a case study, constructing a geometric model of the retinal structure of the eye and applying psychophysical data obtained from physiological, morphological and behavioural studies regarding spectral sensitivity and spatial acuity in order to reconstruct an image approximating that perceived by a bee. The algorithm is general and can be adapted to other invertebrate families.