Walking Setup

The following components can be used on an experimental setup for walking flies, sometimes known as a “treadmill setup.” The majority of the components were created for the “Inexpensive Treadmill” paper. We’ve also begun collecting pieces for flight and physiological configurations, and there may be some overlap. Fly-tethering related components are listed under the Tethering menu, while additional components and 3D models are presented under Miscellaneous.

Inexpensive Treadmill Assembly

Different components combined to a functional experimental setup. We use this assembly to produce the figures for the publication on the Inexpensive Treadmill setup.

Sphere holder (Treadmill)

Spherical insect treadmills are essentially small spheres floating in air. A sphere holder is the component that holds the sphere in a specific location and contains an air intake for pressurized air and an outlet where the sphere would be situated.

Illumination

Optical tracking of spherical treadmills, for example through FicTrac, requires good illumination.

Stands

To assemble different components at specific locations, we use different stands. Examples include camera stands, Micromanipulator stands, and spherical holder stands that are easy, but stable, to build.