What is it about?
Have you ever noticed how damselflies glide effortlessly through the air? Scientists are studying their flight to design more efficient flying robots. This research focuses on how small adjustments in the movement of a damselfly’s hindwings affect thrust efficiency—essentially how much power is needed to keep flying. By tweaking the angle and speed of the hindwings, the study found a way to improve flight efficiency by up to 22%. These insights could help engineers design tiny flying robots that stay in the air longer with less energy, making them useful for exploration, surveillance and even environmental monitoring.
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Why is it important?
Efficient flight is crucial for many applications, from drones to future flying robots. The more energy-efficient a flying machine is, the longer it can stay in the air, making it useful for tasks like search and rescue, environmental monitoring and even space exploration. By studying how damselflies use their wings, this research uncovers ways to improve flight efficiency by adjusting wing movements. These insights could help engineers design better micro-aerial vehicles that use less power and fly longer. Learning from nature has always led to smarter designs, and this study brings us one step closer to more advanced and energy-efficient flying robots.
Perspectives
Nature has always been a source of inspiration for engineering, and studying damselfly flight has given me a deeper appreciation for how animals achieve such remarkable efficiency. It’s amazing how small adjustments in wing movement can make such a big difference in energy use. This research not only helps us understand insect flight but also has real-world applications in designing better flying robots. I find it exciting to think that lessons from tiny insects could shape the future of aerial technology. As we continue exploring bio-inspired engineering, I look forward to seeing how these discoveries contribute to smarter, more efficient flying machines.
Dr Bluest Lan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Optimal thrust efficiency for a tandem wing in forward flight using varied hindwing kinematics of a damselfly, Physics of Fluids, June 2022, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0093208.
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Resources
Optimising Motion for Underwater Vehicles: What Nature Already Knows
Balancing Thrust and Energy Efficiency: Optimised Asymmetric Flapping Inspired by Batoid Locomotion
AI-Powered Approach to Understanding Flapping Wing Aerodynamics
A Neural Network Approach to Estimate Transient Aerodynamic Properties of a Flapping Wing System
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