A remote control flight of an insect - including flight initiation, cessation, pitch control and steering - with a microcontroller-driven neural stimulation system powered by a microbattery. In some embodiments, a miniaturized, pronotum-mounted system comprising a neural stimulator, muscle stimulators, a microcontroller and a microbattery capable of continuous, remote flight control of a 2 gram beetle (Cotinis texana is provided). Flight initiation, cessation and elevation control are accomplished through neural stimulation of the brain which elicits, suppresses or modulates wing oscillation. Turns are triggered through the direct muscular stimulation of either of the flight muscles. Stimulation potentials (|3| V) and power (mean 80 µW per pulse) allow for operation times greater than 31 hours with the 160 mg microbattery. Flight instructions can be pre-loaded into the microcontroller memory or remotely controlled.
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INSECT FLIGHT