Insect Wings: Modeling the Complexity of Flight

[Marin]

Hi everyone!

I have a question for you :)

I am wondering, if there already is a developed model, imitating insect wings, e.g. bee wings. If you happen to observe them, they seem to be much more complex, but also much more useful and allow a more flexible movement. Insects fly with them not only fore- and backwards or up- and downwards but can also stay at a fixed position for a long time.


best regards, Marin

 

[LURCH]

Yes, they are being studied. Of particular interest to researchers is the efficiency of insect wings. Bugs tend to get around on much less energy than is required by traditional aerodynamics. But, one of the reasons discovered is that, at the very small scale of insects, the viscosity of air plays a much more significant role. Unfortunately, their seems to be no qay to scale up this feature to our advantage.

(Except, of course, by making the air thicker, which we are doing as quickly as we can.)