Mar. 14,
2013 — Bumblebees are much more unstable when they hover than when they
fly fast, according to new research published this month in the Journal of
Theoretical Biology.
The authors of
the paper, Na Xu and Mao Sun from Beijing
University of Aeronautics &
Astronautics in China
The
instability at hovering and low speed is mainly caused by a sideways wind made
by the movement of the wings -- a 'positive roll moment'. As the bee flies
faster, the wings bend towards the back of the body, reducing the effect of the
sideways wind and increasing the stability of its flight.
According to
the authors the results could be useful in the development of small flying machines
like robotic insects.
"Dynamic
flight stability is of great importance in the study of biomechanics of insect
flight," said Mao Sun. "It is the basis for studying flight control,
because the inherent stability of a flying system represents the dynamic
properties of the basic system. It also plays a major role in the development
of insect-like micro-air vehicles."
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