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SUMMARY:Translating aerodynamic features from insects and birds to bioinsp
 ired aircraft - Richard Bomphrey\, The Royal Veterinary College
DTSTART:20220610T150000Z
DTEND:20220610T160000Z
UID:TALK173498@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Prof. Jerome Neufeld
DESCRIPTION:I will present two recent examples of how fundamental bioscien
 ce research can teach us about animal ecology\, and also offer solutions t
 o engineering challenges. \n\nFlying animals must perceive and avoid obsta
 cles\, often in environments deprived of visual sensory cues.  In my first
  example\, I will show how collision-avoidance in nocturnal mosquitoes can
  be mediated by mechanosensory feedback\, based on modulations of their ow
 n induced aerodynamic and acoustic fields as they enter ground- or wall-ef
 fect. Our computational fluid dynamics and aeroacoustic simulations are de
 rived from detailed wing kinematics extracted from high-speed recordings o
 f freely flying Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Results reveal areas of
  relative pressure changes that are associated with close proximity to the
  ground and wall planes and that could provide useful information to the f
 light controller: a mechanism we term ‘aerodynamic imaging’. Using the
 se insights we successfully built an aerial robotic prototype carrying a b
 io-inspired sensor package. \n\nIn my second example\, I will present our 
 work based on measuring the changing shape of birds in flight. I will show
  how they minimise drag in a different way from aeronautical design\, and 
 how they remain unperturbed by strong gusts. Our detailed three-dimensiona
 l reconstructions of surface geometries show how wing elevation around the
  shoulder joint acts as a suspension system that rejects gusts. The mechan
 ism works most effectively when the aerodynamic centre of pressure is alig
 ned with the mechanical centre of percussion\, and therefore can be tuned 
 either by changing wing shape or by the distribution of mass within the wi
 ng.\n\nhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/
 fluid-mechanics-webinar-series
LOCATION:Fluid Mechanics Webinar Series
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