The wingbeat of an insect relates directly to energy consumption, is a strong indicator of its rate of metabolism and physical structure, and inversely relates to the length of its wing and to the mass of its body. It is also a principal component in understanding the aerodynamic properties of its flight. In this paper, we introduce a method based on the use of high-speed cameras and computer vision techniques to analyze a bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) wingbeat. We start capturing images with a virtual stereo system when a bumblebee crosses two intersecting laser beams. Then, we detect moving objects using background subtraction. Next, via Fourier analysis of the observed optical flow contraction/expansion, and marginalization of prior knowledge, we estimate the wingbeat frequency. Finally, the information from the two virtual cameras is fused using a robust state estimation. Our system is well prepared to handle occlusions; it works with untethered insects; and it does not require the synchronization of a multi-camera system.
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