Hummingbird-sized hawkmoth has fascinated scientists by its way of tackling difficult sensing and control challenges when it hovers in mid-air and track flowers.

The study researchers have taken the help of infrared cameras and robotic flowers. It has been found that these creatures have the ability to slow their brains, so that they can improve their night vision and continue to carry out their tasks.

The research paper backed by the National Science Foundation and Air Force Office of Scientific Research and published in the journal Science could help the upcoming small flying robots to have features allowing them to operate efficiently in different light conditions.

"There has been a lot of interest in understanding how animals deal with challenging sensing environments, especially when they are also doing difficult tasks like hovering in mid-air", stated Simon Sponberg from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The researchers were aware of the fact that the moths have specialized eye structures, so they can have maximum amount of light. But it was through the latest research they came to know the moths can slow their nervous systems to make the best use of the limited light.

Now, next question was whether ability to slow the nervous system has an effect on their hovering and tracking acts. The researchers came to know that the moths did slow down, but it only made a difference if flower was moving quickly.

The moth was able to track flower oscillating at rates of up to 20 hertz. The researchers termed it to be an excellent behavior.