Video reveals mechanics of moths’ hovering ability
APR 18, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026942
BBC : Jonathan Dyhr of the University of Washington in Seattle and his colleagues used high-speed video cameras to film moths hovering. They put the moths in an environment where the walls could be tilted to make the moths feel like they were tumbling forward or backward. In response, the moths flapped their wings and pivoted their abdomens upward or downward. The change in position of the abdomen changed the airflow over the wings, which balanced the forces that keep the moth in the air. Because moths are relatively large insects, Dyhr says, they make a good model for small, winged robots. Having a clear understanding of the physical mechanics of hovering will be useful for engineers and provides answers for some basic biological questions.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
