Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns

Details Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns

2009-10-05

arxiv.org/abs/0910.0671v1

Physics

Biological Physics

4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PRL

Scientific paper

Flying insects execute aerial maneuvers through subtle manipulations of their wing motions. Here, we measure the free flight kinematics of fruit flies and determine how they modulate their wing pitching to induce sharp turns. By analyzing the torques these insects exert to pitch their wings, we infer that the wing hinge acts as a torsional spring that passively resists the wing's tendency to flip in response to aerodynamic and inertial forces. To turn, the insects asymmetrically change the spring rest angles to generate rowing motions of their wings. Thus, insects can generate these maneuvers using only a slight active actuation that biases their wing motion.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fruit flies modulate passive wing pitching to generate in-flight turns will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-9282