A low-cost spherical treadmill system for quantitative analysis of insect locomotion

This repository contains the 3D-printable STL files for the motion-tracking subsystem described in" Influence of Thermal and Populational Variables on Locomotor Activity in Gromphadorhina portentosa". The components were designed to support a spherical treadmill–based locomotion tracking platform for insects, enabling precise and reproducible measurement of walking activity while maintaining the animal stationary.

The STL files include the structural elements required to assemble the tracking apparatus, such as the spherical treadmill base, optical sensor mounts, vertical support structures, and alignment fixtures. The design is optimized for use with low-friction bearings and orthogonally arranged optical motion sensors, allowing planar locomotor displacement to be reconstructed with high temporal resolution.

All components were developed with accessibility and reproducibility in mind and can be fabricated using standard FDM 3D printers without the need for specialized materials. The modular design allows straightforward adaptation to different insect sizes, sensor configurations, or experimental constraints by modifying individual parts without altering the overall system architecture.

These files are intended to support behavioral neuroscience, neuroethology, and bio-inspired robotics research, and may be used, modified, and adapted for both research and educational purposes. Users are encouraged to cite the associated publication when using this design in scientific work.

!!!!IMPORTANT!!!!

• The system requires two wireless optical mice for working, we strongly recommend using two Logitech M170/1000DPI.
• While there is only one file for mice support, it is required to print four of them for supporting both optical mice to the general support. 
• The spherical base require frictionless bearings for working so they have to be obtained separately.