On Fixation in Insects and Strategies This Enables

Despite their small brains, insects show remarkable abilities. In this thesis I will focus on fixation, defined as maintaining a visual stimuli within the centre of the visual field, discussing potential methods insects could use to separate an object from its background, rotate to fixate upon it, and present two models of strategies that may have evolved to utilise these skills.

The first of these models focuses on approach strategies based on pursuit trajectories of robber flies and dragonflies, however it offers a more general purpose. When aiming for a static target, be it a flower or nest, this algorithm acts to counter the effects of the wind and maintain straight-line courses to the destination.

The second looks at how fixation during exploratory flights could effect structure-from-motion calculations by setting cut-off thresholds and segregating the visual field according to distance.

Due to the wealth of literature, I will mainly discuss findings relating to the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, but will incorporate studies of other insects where applicable.