4 ms·
Also I think that the rate of descent is controlled by equalising the optical flow over the convex surface of the eyes so that it appears constant. This produc
by motters 17y ago
Also I think that the rate of descent is controlled by equalising the optical flow over the convex surface of the eyes so that it appears constant. This produces a gradually decreasing velocity profile as the insect comes in to land.
- andrewcooke 17y agoyour comment doesn't make any sense.
- davi 17y agoMaybe just too terse. Try this: "First discovery that flying insects use an unexpectedly simple and elegant strategy for landing on flat surfaces (Biological Cybernetics 2000). Image velocity is held constant as the surface is approached, thus automatically ensuring that flight speed is close to zero at touchdown. No explicit knowledge of flight speed or height above the ground is necessary. The feasibility of this landing strategy has been successfully tested by implementation on a robotic gantry, and is presently being implemented for testing on airborne vehicles." (http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au//index.html?page=52793#novel%20low http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au//index.html?page=52793#novel%20low)
- andrewcooke 17y agoah! thanks - that's really interesting (the whole page).
- ComputerGuru 17y agoI'm thinking about what sort of über-complex physics engine you'd need to replicate that sort of velocity-image coordination in order to achieve such a super-smooth landing via what basically amounts to an optical illusion... it's incredible what even the most primitive of natural organs can do!