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

Authors: Casey, Miles; Machtley, Scott; Merten, Paul; Hagler, James

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2023
Publication Date: 7/10/2023
Citation: Casey, M.T., Machtley, S.A., Merten, P., Hagler, J.R. 2023. A simple computerized Arduino-based control system for insect rotary flight mills. Journal of Insect Science. 23(4). Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead053.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead053

Interpretive Summary: Knowledge of an insect’s flight potential (e.g. flight propensity, flight speed, flight duration, etc.) is critical for effective pest management. Laboratory flight mills are often used to assess insect flight behavior. Conventional flight mills consist of expensive and complicated (specialized) hardware and software. Scientists at the ARS laboratory in Maricopa, AZ developed a cost effective and easy-to-use generalized computerized control system for flight mills. The hardware and software components are built around an Arduino single-board microcontroller. This control system is suitable both as the basis for new flight mills or for replacing outdated computer controls on existing flight mills. This easy to assemble and inexpensive flight mill system will lessen the burden researchers face when conducting flight mill studies.

Technical 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 This control system is suitable both as the basis for new flight mills or for replacing outdated computer controls on existing flight mills. Additionally, it can be used with any rotary flight mill design which uses an electronic sensor to count rotations.