Modeling Approaches

Simulating Moth Tracking Behavior

This is an example of the computer's view screen after a successful simulation run. The upper panel is the path of a simulated moth as it tracks the odor plume through the simulation environment. The virtual environment that the simulation interacts with is a reproduction of our laboratory wind tunnel: a space 1 meter across and 2.5 meters long, with a platform where the moths are released into the odor plume, and variable wind speed. In this image the odor plume is modeled using a digitized image of a chemical smoke plume {link to smoke plume image} but many different odor presentations are possible. A simulation run is scored as successful if the moth comes within 10 centimeters of the odor source (semicircular line around the source). The middle panel is an illustration of what the simulated moth's antennae are sensing as the simulation interacts with the odor plume. The dotted line is an indication of the threshold of the simulation's sense of smell: below threshold the simulation does not register the stimulus, above threshold the simulation detects the odor and responds according to the types of rules currently controlling it's behavior. The lower panel is an illustration of what a "perfect" detector would sense if it were in a fixed position on the centerline of the odor plume.

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