Multitasking Moths

How the hawkmoth tracks flowers in the dark has surprising applications for airborne robots.

It’s difficult enough to see things in the dark, but what if you also had to hover in midair while tracking a flower moving in the wind?

That's the challenge the hummingbird-sized hawkmoth must overcome while feeding on the nectar of its favorite flowers.

Using high-speed infrared cameras and 3-D-printed robotic flowers, scientists have now learned how this insect juggles these complex sensing and control challenges — all while adjusting to changing light conditions. 

What the researchers have discovered could help the next generation of small flying robots operate efficiently under a broad range of lighting conditions. 

Read more about this fascinating study in the Research Horizons story, Multitasking Moths.

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