Abstract
By analyzing high-speed video of the fruit fly, we discover a swimminglike mode of forward flight characterized by paddling wing motions. We develop a new aerodynamic analysis procedure to show that these insects generate drag-based thrust by slicing their wings forward at low angle of attack and pushing backwards at a higher angle. Reduced-order models and simulations reveal that the law for flight speed is determined by these wing motions but is insensitive to material properties of the fluid. Thus, paddling is as effective in air as in water and represents a common strategy for propulsion through aquatic and aerial environments.
- Received 4 November 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.178103
© 2011 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Fruit flies swim through air
Published 26 April 2011
The paddling motion works not just for swimmers but also for fliers, as new high-speed video observations of fruit flies show.
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