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Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
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Interception by two predatory fly species is explained by a proportional navigation feedback controller.

Samuel T Fabian1, Mary E Sumner1, Trevor J Wardill1,2

  • 1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB3 2EG, UK.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|October 19, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Insects like the robber fly and killer fly use proportional navigation for energy-efficient interception of prey. Different gain constants and delays allow this simple feedback control to work in varied environments.

Keywords:
control systemflightinsectinterceptionpredation

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Area of Science:

  • Insect behavior
  • Predatory flight dynamics
  • Bio-inspired navigation

Background:

  • Animals employ interception or pursuit strategies to catch prey.
  • Interception is more energy-efficient but complex.
  • Miniature-brained insects like flies present a model for studying simple feedback control in predation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if simple feedback controllers explain interception behaviors in robber flies (Holcocephala fusca) and killer flies (Coenosia attenuata).
  • To analyze the flight dynamics and guidance laws used by these flies during predatory interception.
  • To compare interception strategies in different visual environments (open sky vs. cluttered background).

Main Methods:

  • Reconstruction of 3D flight trajectories of flies and their prey.
  • Testing recorded flight performances against simulations of control systems.
  • Evaluating pure pursuit, deviated pursuit, and proportional navigation models.

Main Results:

  • Both fly species intercept targets on near time-optimal courses.
  • Proportional navigation accurately explains fly steering responses, with species-specific parameters.
  • Holcocephala uses N ≈ 3 with a 28 ms delay for long-range interception; Coenosia uses N ≈ 1.5 with an 18 ms delay for close-range interception.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence of proportional navigation in insect interception.
  • Simple feedback controllers, like proportional navigation, can explain complex predatory behaviors in insects.
  • Adjustable gains and delays in feedback controllers allow adaptation to different hunting environments and prey dynamics.