System-theoretic Interpretation of the Mode Sensing Hypothesis

Abstract

This document is the Final Performance Report on award no. FA8655-13-1-3077. The stated aim of this research effort was to establish a mathematically precise and biologically meaningful interpretation of the 'Mode Sensing Hypothesis' using system theoretic tools and system identification techniques. The Mode Sensing Hypothesis can be interpreted as the very general proposition that the high performance observed in insect flight can be related to the way in which the insect represents its flight dynamics in the physiological system generating the sensorimotor response which it uses to stabilize its flight. Here we define the sensorimotor response of an insect as the dynamic relationship between the visual, aerodynamic, and inertial stimuli to which the insect responds, and the aerodynamic forces and moments that the insect causes to be exerted in response. This definition accurately captures the classical understanding of what is meant by the term 'sensorimotor response' in the context of flight stabilization and control, but it will be seen that the elaboration of this definition motivates a significant departure from the way in which insect flight control has more recently been modelled.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA612276

Entities

People

  • Graham K Taylor
  • Rafal Zbikowski

Organizations

  • Cranfield University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Forces
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Differential Equations
  • Dynamics
  • Eigenvalues
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Euler Angles
  • Free Flight
  • Identification
  • Integrated Systems
  • Linear Systems
  • Lyapunov Functions
  • Physics

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.