Flies rely on both visual information from their compound eyes and mechanical input from their halteres. Sherman and Dickinson (2002) discovered that the responsiveness of the halteres and eyes are tuned to complementary speeds of rotation. Responses to body rotations detected via the visual system are greatest at slow speeds and decrease with increased angular velocity. In contrast, body rotations detected by the halteres elicit the greatest responses at higher angular velocities and degrade as the speed of rotation decreases. The integration of these two separately tuned sensors allows the flies to detect a wide range of angular velocities in all three directions of rotation.
Flies rely on both visual information from their compound eyes and mechanical input from their halteres Sherman and Dickinson (2002) discovered that the responsiveness of the halteres and eyes are tuned to complementary speeds of rotation Responses to body rotations detected via the visual system are greatest at slow speeds and decrease with increased angular velocity In contrast body rotations detected by the halteres elicit the greatest responses at higher angular velocities and degrade as the speed of rotation decreases The integration of these two separately tuned sensors allows the flies to detect a wide range of angular velocities in all three directions of rotation