Title: Describing the Myotis Superhighway: Characteristics of Aggregated 3D Trajectories through a Cluttered Environment Authors: Nathan Fuller, Diane Theriault, Alison Greco, Zheng Wu, Thomas Kunz, John Baillieul and Margrit Betke Date: October 24-27, 2012 Abstract: With a few exceptions, past studies of bat flight behavior have provided only basic measurements of the variables governing bat flight, such as air speed, turning frequency, and measures of habitat use. With recent advances in computational techniques and thermal imaging technology, we are now able to examine flight behavior in unprecedented detail and provide quantifiable measurements of flight dynamics. Through close collaboration with computer scientists and control systems engineers, we have reconstructed the flight trajectories of 405 Myotis velfier as they navigate past natural landscape features in Texas. Most bats chose to fly a path that is not a straight line, but rather a sweeping, curved pathway within 3 meters of the edge of the forest. When faced with a natural obstacle, the bats chose one of two paths around it, one cluttered by foliage and the other free of obstructions. Aggregate trajectories were obtained by clustering the bats based on their chosen path around the obstacle. Characteristics and summary statistics of the aggregate paths were calculated at regular intervals along an axis of motion. Features of the aggregate pathways will be discussed, including geometry and shape. These data will be used by our collaborators in an effort to define simplified models of the variables the govern flight and collective behavior. Eventually these models will be integrated into intelligent flight control algorithms that will lead to the development of a new generation of biologically-inspired unmanned aircraft.