How do bees orchestrate smooth landings?

A fly executing a flawless landing on the rim of a teacup demonstrates convincingly that flying insects embody visual systems that are fast, accurate and reliable, and motor control that is exquisitely precise. As most insects carry a brain that weighs less than a milligram and possesses limited processing power, these creatures must have evolved simple, elegant strategies to control their impressive aerobatic maneuvers. The aim of this project is to carry out a comprehensive experimental study of landing performance in an insect the honeybee with a view to obtaining a quantitative model of the underlying control strategy that achieves a safe, collision-free touchdown.