A simple computerized Arduino-based control system for insect rotary flight mills

Abstract

Flight mills are widely used to investigate insect flight behavior. As technology advances, the means to build a computerized control system for a flight mill has become more accessible in terms of both price and availability of components. However, the specialized electronics and programming knowledge required to build such a system can still present an obstacle to interested parties. Here, we describe a simple and inexpensive flight mill control system that can be easily assembled and operated without specialized experience. The hardware and software components are built around an Arduino single-board microcontroller, which outputs raw data in the form of timestamped detections of rotations of the flight mill arm. This control system is suitable both as the basis for new flight mills and for replacing outdated computer controls on existing flight mills. Additionally, it can be used with any rotary flight mill design that uses an electronic sensor to count rotations.

Arduino‐integrated flight mill: A cost‐effective approach to studying insect flight behavior

“…Now we have entered the digital age, with the promise of open-source platforms (Bernat 2021). A shining example of this evolution is the integration of the Arduino platform into flight mills (Casey et al 2023). Known for adaptability, modularity, and userfriendliness, Arduino has paved the way for affordable flight mills.…”