Abstract
Image processing and analysis used in the past behavior of fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, are off-line work. It needs two steps, first recorded images by a camera and then analyzed by software. In this way, it cannot apply any external stimulus during experiment. This paper proposes the development of a real-time processing system for Drosophila behavior study, enhancing experiments to rapid analysis of images, tracking the location of fruit fly and providing additional stimuli to change its behavior. Thesis is divided into two parts. First, design and develop the system for fruit fly image analysis. It can get the real-time location, distance and direction information. After analysis, it can rotate two-axis motor to a specific position by sending signals via a digital to analog card. Mirrors on the motor reflected the laser light hit the choosing fly. Second, verify the real-time image analysis and laser light effects to the fly by experiments. This real-time image processing with a laser tracking system will promote the passive observation of fruit flies to active stimulation on specific fruit fly. This system can help experts get additional differences in behavior experiments and increase the experimental design diversity. In the future, it can be used with the gene engineering technology in Brain Research Center of National Tsing Hua University to find the brain network linking from upstream to downstream in fruit flies.