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Bode-Oke AT, Menzer A, Dong H. Postural Change of the Annual Cicada ( Tibicen linnei) Helps Facilitate Backward Flight. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:233. [PMID: 38667244 PMCID: PMC11048523 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9040233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cicadas are heavy fliers well known for their life cycles and sound production; however, their flight capabilities have not been extensively investigated. Here, we show for the first time that cicadas appropriate backward flight for additional maneuverability. We studied this flight mode using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on three-dimensional reconstructions of high-speed videos captured in a laboratory. Backward flight was characterized by steep body angles, high angles of attack, and high wing upstroke velocities. Wing motion occurred in an inclined stroke plane that was fixed relative to the body. Likewise, the directions of the half-stroke-averaged aerodynamic forces relative to the body (local frame) were constrained in a narrow range (<20°). Despite the drastic difference of approximately 90° in body posture between backward and forward flight in the global frame, the aerodynamic forces in both flight scenarios were maintained in a similar direction relative to the body. The forces relative to the body were also oriented in a similar direction when observed during climbs and turns, although the body orientation and motions were different. Hence, the steep posture appropriated during backward flight was primarily utilized for reorienting both the stroke plane and aerodynamic force in the global frame. A consequence of this reorientation was the reversal of aerodynamic functions of the half strokes in backward flight when compared to forward flight. The downstroke generated propulsive forces, while the upstroke generated vertical forces. For weight support, the upstroke, which typically generates lesser forces in forward flight, is aerodynamically active in backward flight. A leading-edge vortex (LEV) was observed on the forewings during both half strokes. The LEV's effect, together with the high upstroke velocity, increased the upstroke's force contribution from 10% of the net forces in forward flight to 50% in backward flight. The findings presented in this study have relevance to the design of micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs), as backward flight is an important characteristic for MAV maneuverability or for taking off from vertical surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Haibo Dong
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (A.T.B.-O.); (A.M.)
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Wang L, Shi Z, Geng X, Tong S, Chen Z. Analyzing the kinematics and longitudinal aerodynamics of a four-wing bionic aircraft. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:026016. [PMID: 38306675 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad253d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
This paper designs a bionic aircraft model equipped with multiple degrees of freedom to study the inertial force equation and the aerodynamic interaction between its forewings and hindwings. Each wing's phase difference angle (PDA) and stroke plane angle (SPA) are independently adjustable. Employing the kinematic equation of a single wing, we establish a model for the inertial force of the four-wing aircraft, validating its accuracy through experimental comparisons. Furthermore, we analyze various combinations of PDA and SPA parameters for the fore- and hindwings to ascertain the most efficient aerodynamic motion modes. Our findings reveal that aerodynamic interference between the fore- and hindwings tends to be unfavorable, predominantly due to the hindwings being exposed to the wake generated by the forewings, hindering their lift-capturing ability. Nevertheless, a specific PDA = 270° (forewing ahead of hindwing 270°) helps mitigate this interference across a wider range of SPA. Interestingly, when the stroke plane aligns parallel to the horizontal direction, asynchronous flapping of the fore- and hindwings, forming a lift mechanism akin to clap-and-fling wings, positively impacts lift. Consequently, staggered flapping of the fore- and hindwings reduces fuselage jitter and alleviates aerodynamic interference through specialized PDA, resulting in a temporary lift enhancement. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical support for the longitudinal attitude control of four-wing aircraft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishuang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Unsteady Aerodynamics and Flow Control, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Shi
- Key Laboratory of Unsteady Aerodynamics and Flow Control, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Geng
- Key Laboratory of Unsteady Aerodynamics and Flow Control, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengxiang Tong
- Key Laboratory of Unsteady Aerodynamics and Flow Control, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Unsteady Aerodynamics and Flow Control, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, People's Republic of China
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Huang Z, Menzer A, Guo J, Dong H. Hydrodynamic analysis of fin-fin interactions in two-manta-ray schooling in the vertical plane. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:026004. [PMID: 38176107 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad1b2e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the interaction of a two-manta-ray school using computational fluid dynamics simulations. The baseline case consists of two in-phase undulating three-dimensional manta models arranged in a stacked configuration. Various vertical stacked and streamwise staggered configurations are studied by altering the locations of the top manta in the upstream and downstream directions. Additionally, phase differences between the two mantas are considered. Simulations are conducted using an in-house developed incompressible flow solver with an immersed boundary method. The results reveal that the follower will significantly benefit from the upstroke vortices (UVs) and downstroke vortices depending on its streamwise separation. We find that placing the top manta 0.5 body length (BL) downstream of the bottom manta optimizes its utilization of UVs from the bottom manta, facilitating the formation of leading-edge vortices (LEVs) on the top manta's pectoral fins during the downstroke. This LEV strengthening mechanism, in turn, generates a forward suction force on the follower that results in a 72% higher cycle-averaged thrust than a solitary swimmer. This benefit harvested from UVs can be further improved by adjusting the phase of the top follower. By applying a phase difference ofπ/3to the top manta, the follower not only benefits from the UVs of the bottom manta but also leverages the auxiliary vortices during the upstroke, leading to stronger tip vortices and a more pronounced forward suction force. The newfound interaction observed in schooling studies offers significant insights that can aid in the development of robot formations inspired by manta rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States of America
| | - Alec Menzer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States of America
| | - Jiacheng Guo
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States of America
| | - Haibo Dong
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States of America
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Wing Kinematics and Unsteady Aerodynamics of a Hummingbird Pure Yawing Maneuver. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 7:biomimetics7030115. [PMID: 35997435 PMCID: PMC9397107 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7030115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of few animals with the capability to execute agile yawing maneuvers, it is quite desirable to take inspiration from hummingbird flight aerodynamics. To understand the wing and body kinematics and associated aerodynamics of a hummingbird performing a free yawing maneuver, a crucial step in mimicking the biological motion in robotic systems, we paired accurate digital reconstruction techniques with high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Results of the body and wing kinematics reveal that to achieve the pure yaw maneuver, the hummingbird utilizes very little body pitching, rolling, vertical, or horizontal motion. Wing angle of incidence, stroke, and twist angles are found to be higher for the inner wing (IW) than the outer wing (OW). Unsteady aerodynamic calculations reveal that drag-based asymmetric force generation during the downstroke (DS) and upstroke (US) serves to control the speed of the turn, a characteristic that allows for great maneuvering precision. A dual-loop vortex formation during each half-stroke is found to contribute to asymmetric drag production. Wake analysis revealed that asymmetric wing kinematics led to leading-edge vortex strength differences of around 59% between the IW and OW. Finally, analysis of the role of wing flexibility revealed that flexibility is essential for generating the large torque necessary for completing the turn as well as producing sufficient lift for weight support.
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Peng L, Zheng M, Pan T, Su G, Li Q. Tandem-wing interactions on aerodynamic performance inspired by dragonfly hovering. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202275. [PMID: 34457328 PMCID: PMC8385352 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dragonflies possess two pairs of wings and the interactions between forewing (FW) and hindwing (HW) play an important role in dragonfly flight. The effects of tandem-wing (TW) interactions on the aerodynamic performance of dragonfly hovering have been investigated. Numerical simulations of single-wing hovering without interactions and TW hovering with interactions are conducted and compared. It is found that the TW interactions reduce the lift coefficient of FW and HW by 7.36% and 20.25% and also decrease the aerodynamic power and efficiency. The above effects are mainly caused by the interaction between the vortex structures of the FW and the HW, which makes the pressure of the wing surface and the flow field near the wings change. During the observations of dragonfly flight, it is found that the phase difference (γ) is not fixed. To explore the influence of phase difference on aerodynamic performance, TW hovering with different phase differences is studied. The results show that at γ = 22.5°, dragonflies produce the maximum lift which is more than 20% of the body weight with high efficiency; at γ = 180°, dragonflies generate the same lift as the body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liansong Peng
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengzong Zheng
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyu Pan
- Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanting Su
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiushi Li
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
- Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, People's Republic of China
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Ma Y, Zhao H, Ma T, Ning J, Gorb S. Wing coupling mechanism in the butterfly Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) and its role in taking off. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104212. [PMID: 33662377 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The small white cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae) flaps its fore- and hindwings in synchrony as the wings are coupled using a wing "coupling mechanism". The coupling mechanism of butterflies includes an enlarged humeral area located at the anterior of the hindwing base and a corresponding basal posterior part of the forewing, of which the former component dorsally contacts the ventral side of the latter one. The coupling mechanism allows for the fore- and hindwings sliding in contact along the span and chord. It is of interest that butterflies still take off successfully and fly, when their wing couplings are clipped, but they are unable to properly synchronize the fore- and hindwing motions. Compared with the regular takeoff trajectory of intact butterflies that always first fly backwards and then forwards, the coupling-clipped butterflies took off in a random trajectory. Due to the clipping of the coupling mechanism, the initiation of the hindwing flapping and the abdomen rotation from upward to downward during takeoff was postponed. The coupling-clipped butterflies changed their stroke plane in upstroke to a more vertical position and strengthened the abdominal undulation. We believe our work, which for the first time investigates the influence of coupling mechanism removal on insect flight, extends our understanding on the working principle of wing coupling in insects and its significance on the flapping flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel 24118, Germany
| | - Hongyan Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Astronautical System Engineering, Beijing 100076, China
| | - Tianbao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jianguo Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Stanislav Gorb
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel 24118, Germany
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Lai YH, Lin YJ, Chang SK, Yang JT. Effect of wing-wing interaction coupled with morphology and kinematic features of damselflies. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2020; 16:016017. [PMID: 33075754 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/abc293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of the wing-wing interaction, which is one key aspect of flight control, of damselflies (Matrona cyanopteraandEuphaea formosa) in forward flight that relates closely to their body morphologies and wing kinematics. We used two high-speed cameras aligned orthogonally to measure the flight motions and adopted 3D numerical simulation to analyze the flow structures and aerodynamic efficiencies. The results clarify the effects of wing-wing interactions, which are complicated combinations of biological morphology, wing kinematics and fluid dynamics. As the amplitude of the hindwing ofM. cyanopterais larger than that ofE. formosa, the effect of the wing-wing interaction is more constructive. Restricted by the body morphology ofE. formosa, the flapping range of the hindwing is below the body. With the forewing in the lead, the hindwing is farther from the forewing, which is not susceptible to the wake of the forewing, and enables superior lift and thrust. Because of the varied rotational motions, the different shed direction of the wakes of the forewings causes the optimal thrust to occur in different wing phases. Because of its biological limitations, a damselfly can use an appropriate phase to fulfill the desired flight mode. The wing-wing interaction is a compromise between lift efficiency and thrust efficiency. The results reveal that a damselfly with the forewing in the lead can have an effective aerodynamic performance in flight. As an application, in the design concept of a micro-aircraft, increasing the amplitude of the hindwing might enhance the wing-wing interaction, thus controlling the flight modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsiang Lai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - You-Jun Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Kai Chang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Tang Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Bode-Oke AT, Dong H. The reverse flight of a monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) is characterized by a weight-supporting upstroke and postural changes. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200268. [PMID: 32574538 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Butterflies are agile fliers which use inactive and active upstrokes (US). The active US plays a secondary role to the downstroke (DS), generating both thrust and negative vertical force. However, whether their active halfstroke function is fixed or facultative has not been clarified. We showed that during multiple backward flights of an individual, postural adjustments via body angles greater than 90°, with pitch-down and pitch-up motions in the DS and US, respectively, reoriented the stroke plane and caused the reversal of the aerodynamic functions of the halfstrokes compared with forward flight. The US and DS primarily provided weight support and horizontal force, respectively, and a leading edge vortex (LEV) was formed in both halfstrokes. The US's LEV was a Class II LEV extending from wingtip to wingtip, previously reported albeit during the DS in forward flight. The US's net force contribution increased from 32% in forward to 60% in backward flight. Likewise, US weight support increased from 8 to 85%. Despite different trajectories, body postures and force orientations among flight sequences in the global frame, the halfstroke-average forces pointed in a uniform direction relative to the body in both forward and backward flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji T Bode-Oke
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Haibo Dong
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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Zou PY, Lai YH, Yang JT. Effects of phase lag on the hovering flight of damselfly and dragonfly. Phys Rev E 2019; 100:063102. [PMID: 31962416 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.100.063102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this work we studied the differences in flight kinematics and aerodynamics that could relate to differences in wing morphologies of a dragonfly and a damselfly. The damselflies and dragonflies normally fly with the fore wing or hind wing in the lead, respectively. The wing of the damselfly is petiolate, which means that the wing root is narrower than that of the dragonfly. The influence of the biological morphology between the damselfly and the dragonfly on their hovering strategies is worthy of clarification. The flight motions of damselflies and dragonflies in hovering were recorded with two high-speed cameras; we analyzed the differences between their hovering motions using computational fluid dynamics. The distinct mechanisms of the hovering flight of damselflies (Matrona cyanoptera) and dragonflies (Neurothemis ramburii) with different phase lags between fore and hind wings were deduced. The results of a comparison of the differences of wing phases in hovering showed that the rotational effect has an important role in the aerodynamics; the interactions between fore and hind wings greatly affect their vortex structure and flight performance. The wake of a damselfly sheds smoothly because of slender petiolation; a vertical force is generated steadily during the stage of wing translation. Damselflies hover with a longer translational phase and a larger flapping amplitude. In contrast, the root vortex of a dragonfly impedes the shedding of wake vortices in the upstroke, which results in the loss of a vertical force; the dragonfly hence hovers with a large amplitude of wing rotation. These species of Odonata insects developed varied hovering strategies to fit their distinct biological morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yi Zou
- Department of Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsiang Lai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Tang Yang
- Department of Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
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Bode-Oke AT, Zeyghami S, Dong H. Flying in reverse: kinematics and aerodynamics of a dragonfly in backward free flight. J R Soc Interface 2019; 15:rsif.2018.0102. [PMID: 29950513 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the backward free flight of a dragonfly, accelerating in a flight path inclined to the horizontal. The wing and body kinematics were reconstructed from the output of three high-speed cameras using a template-based subdivision surface reconstruction method, and numerical simulations using an immersed boundary flow solver were conducted to compute the forces and visualize the flow features. During backward flight, the dragonfly maintained an upright body posture of approximately 90° relative to the horizon. The upright body posture was used to reorient the stroke plane and the flight force in the global frame; a mechanism known as 'force vectoring' which was previously observed in manoeuvres of other flying animals. In addition to force vectoring, we found that while flying backward, the dragonfly flaps its wings with larger angles of attack in the upstroke (US) when compared with forward flight. Also, the backward velocity of the body in the upright position enhances the wings' net velocity in the US. The combined effect of the angle of attack and wing net velocity yields large aerodynamic force generation in the US, with the average magnitude of the force reaching values as high as two to three times the body weight. Corresponding to these large forces was the presence of a strong leading edge vortex (LEV) at the onset of US which remained attached up until wing reversal. Finally, wing-wing interaction was found to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the hindwings (HW) during backward flight. Vorticity from the forewings' trailing edge fed directly into the HW LEV to increase its circulation and enhance force production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji T Bode-Oke
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Samane Zeyghami
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Haibo Dong
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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Jakobi T, Kolomenskiy D, Ikeda T, Watkins S, Fisher A, Liu H, Ravi S. Bees with attitude: the effects of directed gusts on flight trajectories. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio.034074. [PMID: 30135080 PMCID: PMC6215418 DOI: 10.1242/bio.034074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Flight is a complicated task at the centimetre scale particularly due to unsteady air fluctuations which are ubiquitous in outdoor flight environments. Flying organisms deal with these difficulties using active and passive control mechanisms to steer their body motion. Body attitudes of flapping organisms are linked with their resultant flight trajectories and performance, yet little is understood about how isolated unsteady aerodynamic phenomena affect the interlaced dynamics of such systems. In this study, we examined freely flying bumblebees subject to a single isolated gust to emulate aerodynamic disturbances encountered in nature. Bumblebees are expert commanders of the aerial domain as they persistently forage within complex terrain elements. By tracking the three-dimensional dynamics of bees flying through gusts, we determined the sequences of motion that permit flight in three disturbance conditions: sideward, upward and downward gusts. Bees executed a series of passive impulsive maneuvers followed by active recovery maneuvers. Impulsive motion was unique in each gust direction, maintaining control by passive manipulation of the body. Bees pitched up and slowed down at the beginning of recovery in every disturbance, followed by corrective maneuvers which brought body attitudes back to their original state. Bees were displaced the most by the sideward gust, displaying large lateral translations and roll deviations. Upward gusts were easier for bees to fly through, causing only minor flight changes and minimal recovery times. Downward gusts severely impaired the control response of bees, inflicting strong adverse forces which sharply upset trajectories. Bees used a variety of control strategies when flying in each disturbance, offering new insights into insect-scale flapping flight and bio-inspired robotic systems.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Jakobi
- School of Aerospace Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3083, Australia
| | - Dmitry Kolomenskiy
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokohama-shi, 236-0001, Japan
| | - Teruaki Ikeda
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Simon Watkins
- School of Aerospace Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3083, Australia
| | - Alex Fisher
- School of Aerospace Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3083, Australia
| | - Hao Liu
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Sridhar Ravi
- School of Aerospace Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3083, Australia
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