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Delcomyn, Fred
Professor, Entomology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology
B.S., Wayne State University
M.S., Northwestern University
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Research Areas
Physiology and simulation of insect behavior
Any animal‘s behavior is the result of the spatial and temporal patterning of the activity of motor neurons. How does the central nervous system generate such a pattern? We investigate this question physiologically, by computer simulation, and by robotics, using walking as a model behavior. Physiologically, we study the characteristics of sense organs and the effects of manipulation of their output on the pattern of walking. Such experiments help us to establish the contribution of different sense organs to the walking pattern. We also use computer simulations of the walking control system to study locomotion. Simulations help determine what kinds of control mechanisms can generate patterned output that is similar to that observed in the living animal, and how sensory feedback may contribute to the pattern, allowing us to further develop our concepts about how the control system is organized. Working with robotics engineers, we build and study six-legged walking robots to test specific hypotheses generated from the physiological and simulation work as to how the locomtor system can generate coordinated walking.
Representative Publications
Cocatre-Zilgien JH, and Delcomyn F. 1999. Modeling stress and strain in an insect leg for simulation of campaniform sensilla responses to external forces. Biol. Cybern. 81:149-160.
Delcomyn F. 1999. Walking robots and the central and peripheral control of locomotion in insects. Auton. Rob. 7:259-270.
Reichler JA, and Delcomyn F. 2000. A dynamics simulator and controller testbed for biologically inspired walking robots. Int. J. Robotics Res. 19:42-58.
Delcomyn F, and Nelson ME. 2000. Architectures for a biomimetic hexapod robot. Robot. Auton. Sys. 30:5-15.
Fan Z, Chen J, Zou J, Bullen D, Liu C, and Delcomyn F. 2002. Design and fabrication of artificial lateral-line flow sensors. J. Micromechanics Microengineering 12:655-661.
Delcomyn F. 2004. Insect walking and robotics. Annual Rev. Entomol. 49:51-70.
Delcomyn, F., 2004. Title IX paves the road to equality in student athletics. Commentary, Chicago Sun-Times, 17 January 2004, p. 23.
Cecchini, M. and Delcomyn, F. 2004. Insect leg hair plate encodes velocity not position. The 7th Congress of the International Society for Neuroethology, Abstracts, PO5/6.
Additional Information
Related Research (By Area):
Computational Neuroscience
Neuroengineering
Neuroethology
Sensory and Motor Systems
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