Bioinspired adaptive optical imaging technology

Bioinspired adaptive optical imaging technology draws inspiration from nature's visual systems to overcome the limitations of conventional static optics. By emulating adaptive mechanisms like the human eye's accommodation and pupil response or the compound eye's wide field of view, this field enables imaging systems that dynamically tune key parameters such as focal length, aperture, and field of view. This review systematically examines two primary research thrusts: human-eye-inspired adaptive imaging using tunable lenses and apertures, and compound-eye-inspired systems for wide-field and multi-scale imaging. This review also explores adaptive technologies inspired by other biological models, such as polarization and spectral vision. Despite progress, challenges in integration, reliability, and multi-parameter control persist. Future advancement hinges on co-designing novel materials, adaptive device architectures, and intelligent processing to transition from passive biomimicry to actively intelligent imaging systems for applications ranging from robotics to biomedicine.