April 9, 2009 -- Flying, flapping robots could soon get an upgrade, thanks to new research that reveals the deceptively simple mechanism used by bats, birds and bugs to turn in flight. "Why are animals so much better at maneuvering and recovering from perturbations than our human-designed flight systems?" asked Tyson Hedrick, a professor of biology at the University of North Carolina and an author of the study, which appears in the current issue of Science. "From fruit flies through hummingbirds to larger birds and bats, we tried to uncover the fundamental aspects of turning in flight," he said. The study is the first to examine how various flying creatures can turn in midair without crashing to the ground. Previous studies of animal flight have mostly focused on how they manage to stay aloft at all. Related Content:
Experiments to test bird flight are simpler than those for studying turns, since scientists can stick birds in wind tunnels or super-glue insects to anchored bits of string. Catching a free-flying bird, bat or bug in the middle of a turn is significantly harder, but not impossible, as the scientists showed. Detailed photographic images showed the scientists that it is easier for animals to turn than they previously though. To turn left, all a bird has to do is flap its right wing a little bit harder than the left wing. To end the turn, the bird simply returns to flapping its wings in unison. "Flapping is a rapid and powerful activity that offers a potent means for rapid movement control and recovery," said Bret Tobalske, a professor at the University of Montana who was not involved in the research but wrote an accompanying commentary in Science. Tobalske used the example of the cheap plastic helicopters found in hobby stores. They work great indoors, but even a mild gust of wind outdoors sends them crashing to Earth. A bird, or a robot with flapping wings, would be inherently more stable against perturbations in the environment. Get More NewsMouse Cloned From Long-Frozen CellResearchers create a mouse from a long-frozen cell. Will the mammoth be next?'Bubble' Could Protect AstronautsScientists say a "bubble" around a Mars-bound spaceship could protect astronauts.Big Reduction of Snowmobiles in Yellowstone ProposedA new plan would cut snowmobile use by 40 percent in Yellowstone.Microbes: Fuel of the Future?A reddish South American microbe is literally breathing fuel, say scientists.DNA Links Remains to Steve FossetDNA tests on two bones found in California confirm they are those of Steve Fossett.Women Carry More Bacteria Than MenSome bacteria prefer women, suggests a new study. But why?Ancient 'Water Monster' Facing ExtinctionA foot-long salamander that was a key part of Aztec legend is threatened by extinction.Grand Canyon's Youth ConfirmedThe Grand Canyon is millions of years younger than previously thought, argue geologists.My Take: E-Voting Not User FriendlyOpinion: Electronic voting machines don't always capture the intent of voters.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.At 40, Brain and Body SlowThe part of the brain in charge of motion starts a gradual slide in middle age.Spiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates. |
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