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About

Amir Ayali is a leading researcher at the intersection of insect biology, biomechanics, and bio-inspired robotics, whose work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how biological systems can inform cutting-edge engineering solutions. Drawing primarily on insects such as locusts, cockroaches, stick insects, and caterpillars, Ayali has made seminal contributions to the fields of locomotion, sensory biology, and collective behavior. Ayali is perhaps best known for developing a locust-inspired miniature jumping robot capable of leaping over 3.5 meters, a landmark achievement that has garnered over 150 citations and opened new avenues for small-scale robot mobility in challenging terrain. His comparative studies of insect locomotion models have further provided foundational frameworks for roboticists and biologists alike. Beyond locomotion, his innovative "Ear-Bot" project — integrating a locust's tympanic ear with a robotic platform — exemplifies his pioneering bio-hybrid approach to sensing technology. More recently, Ayali has turned his attention to collective motion and swarming behavior, using locust-inspired models to decode the visual and perceptual mechanisms underlying group coordination. Across his career, his research bridges biological insight with real-world technological application, making him an influential figure for students and researchers in neuroethology, biomechanics, and robotics.