Control and dynamics of insect flight

To coordinate their motion, animals rely on sensory systems to acquire,
process, and transmit necessary information from the environment. That
information, in turn, is used in computing appropriate motor programs
that lead to movement patterns.

In this talk, we will focus on the control and dynamics of flight
in insects. With a combination of visual and mechano-sensory data,
insects use a variety of actuators to control their flight paths.
Wing and abdominal motions, and even head and leg movements are all
critical parts of insect flight control circuit. Thus these MIMO
creatures (multiple input, multiple output) typify the challenges we
face in developing computer interfaces for movement control in
animals.

In addition to quantifying the sensory processing part of their
flight circuits, we will see how one might deploy tiny implantable
microcomputers to alter the flight path of insects.

Biography

Tom Daniel trained in biology and engineering with a Ph.D. Duke
University (1982) and a Bantrell Postdoctoral Fellowship at Caltech.
He is professor of Biology and holds the Joan and Richard Komen
Endowed Chair at the University of Washington as well as faculty
appointments in the Program of Neurobiology and Behavior as well as in
the Department of Bioengineering. His research focuses on a
combination of neural and engineering approaches to biological systems
with a focus on the control and dynamics of animal movement. He
relishes collaborations with computer scientists and engineers. He is
the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and the University of
Washington Distinguished Teaching Award the UW Distinguished Graduate
Mentor Award.