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MURI – Biologically Inspired Flapping Flight Sponsor: AFOSR (Doug Smith)
This research investigates the kinematic and aerodynamic mechanisms of gust rejection employed by insects, in particular the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the stalk-eyed fly.
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J. Sean Humbert, Ph.D. |
The small
size and proposed maneuverability of micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) provide immense potential to improve surveillance
in the contexts of security and exploration of novel and/or remote landscapes. The success of
MAVs will depend on the ability to vary aerodynamic output in response to perturbations, such
as gusts of wind or turbulence associated with flight in heterogeneous environments. 
Multi-camera,
high-speed videography is used to film animals during free-flight and simulated forward flight (via small-scale
wind tunnel) as they encounter variable-strength gusts and turbulence. The three-dimensional wing and body
kinematics are reconstructed from these video sequences, and the flight dynamics and control are modeled to
characterize how insects mitigate environmental perturbations and develop strategies applicable to MAVs
and other small-scale autonomous flying vehicles.
QuickTime format
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