Moth-inspired drone flies and hovers with insectlike precision

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a moth-inspired flapping-wing drone capable of hovering and tracking a moving light source with insectlike precision, without relying on artificial intelligence or GPS. Led by Assistant Professor Sameh Eisa, the project mimics the natural flight control of hovering insects, which maintain stability and orientation through constant fine adjustments. The drone uses an extremum-seeking feedback system—a simple, model-free, real-time control method—that enables it to optimize its position relative to a target by continuously measuring its own performance and making micro-adjustments to wing motions. This biologically inspired approach allows the drone to replicate the subtle swaying and agile maneuvers seen in moths, hummingbirds, and other hovering insects, despite having limited computational resources. The four-winged drone, constructed from wire and fabric, independently controls roll, pitch, and yaw through rapid wingbeats, which appear as a blur to the naked eye. The researchers suggest that this extremum-seeking feedback mechanism may explain