How Flying Insects Master the Air

How does a mosquito find you in complete darkness?
How does a tiny fly escape your swatting hand?
How can a bee land on a flower swaying in the wind?

They require sophisticated sensory systems, rapid decision making and precise aerodynamic control.

At the Experimental Zoology group of Wageningen University, we investigate the biomechanics, aerodynamics and sensorimotor mechanisms that allow flying insects to navigate, manoeuvre and interact with their environment.

We study freely flying insects in both laboratory and field conditions using high speed motion capture and behavioural experiments. We combine these measurements with aerodynamic and sensorimotor models based on computational fluid dynamics and control theory.

From mosquitoes and hoverflies to bees and butterflies, we study how insects fly and what their solutions can teach us about biology, evolution and bio-inspired engineering.