CAD Modeling of Insects and Insect Flight Animation

Machines that simulate flying insects can be used to maneuver into small complex spaces. An important first step to creating insectoid flying machines is studying how an insect flies and creating a 3-D model that replicates its movements. The red milkweed beetle was chosen to be the subject because it was easy to find and capture. Live specimens were captured from the wild and then, using a highspeed camera, videotaped in natural flight. Photographs of dissected beetles were then taken and used to create a complete model of a red milkweed beetle. This model was then animated with the motions based off of observations from footage of red milkweed beetles in flight. As a result, a detailed and accurate 3-D model of the red milkweed beetle and its flight animation was constructed.