{
  "abstract": "Understanding how environmental stressors affect pollinator behavior is essential for assessing ecosystem health. Automated flower and robotic feeder systems (AFRFSs) have transformed studies of pollinator foraging and learning, yet most remain reward-centric and cannot probe aversive learning under field conditions. Here, we present FloBuzz, a modular AFRFS that combines automated reward delivery with computer vision visit detection to trigger closed-loop electric shock stimulation in free-flying honey bees (Apis mellifera). The system consists of a 3D-printed feeder with a shock grid, a syringe pump with fluid level feedback, and a computer vision based shock module. In a replicated field proof-of-concept experiment, mean bee occupancy decreased with increasing stimulus voltage, demonstrating a measurable voltage-dependent deterrent response. These results validate the ability of FloBuzz to deliver automated, programmable aversive stimulation under outdoor conditions. Its modular architecture provides a flexible platform for future studies requiring controlled integration of appetitive and aversive stimuli in freely foraging bees.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye",
    "Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (ROMER), Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye",
    "Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye",
    "Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye",
    "Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elvin Gultekinoglu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Babur Erdem"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Atakan Botasun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Okan Can Arslan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Sedat Sevin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ayse Gul Gozen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hande Alemdar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Erol Sahin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ali Emre Turgut"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6pg78rf0sqvf5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0361207",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6pg78rf0sqvf5",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361207",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1105|Plant and animal studies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive science/Cognitive psychology/Learning"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Learning and memory/Learning"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees/Honey bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Plant science/Plant anatomy/Flowers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Behavior"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Animal behavior/Foraging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Learning"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animal behavior/Foraging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropoda/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees/Honey bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Entomology/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Entomology/Insects/Hymenoptera/Bees/Honey bees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer architecture/User interfaces/Graphical user interfaces"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Electronics engineering/Computer engineering/Man-computer interface/Graphical user interfaces"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Energy and power/Power distribution/Power grids"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Behavior"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Animal behavior/Foraging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Learning"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223706394",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0361207&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6pg78rf0sqvf5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0361207",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361207"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:animal behavior",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "FloBuzz: A modular feeder system for automated aversive stimulation in free-flying bees",
  "title_text": "FloBuzz: A modular feeder system for automated aversive stimulation in free-flying bees",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6pg78rf0sqvf5",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}