Kinematic Analysis of Symmetrical Flight Manoeuvres of Odonata

Abstract

By analysis of slow-motion films of dragonflies and damselflies in free flight, released in front of a backdrop or startled during flight, the following flight parameters have been quantified for symmetrical manoeuvres: wingbeat frequency, relative durations of up- and downstroke, phase relationships of the beats of fore- and hindwings, stroke amplitude, mean stroke velocity, flight velocity, nondimensional flight velocity, advance ratio, acceleration, angle of attack and stroke plane. The wingbeat frequencies are higher in the smaller species and in those with relatively large wing loading. As a rule, Zygoptera have a wingbeat frequency only half that of Anisoptera. The stroke amplitude is almost always much larger in Zygoptera than in Anisoptera, which have a greater range of variation in this respect. Stroke velocity is higher in Anisoptera than in Zygoptera; it is also higher in the more elaborate flight manoeuvres than in others. The calculated stroke velocities resemble those actually measured. Anisoptera fly more rapidly than Zygoptera. With respect to the nondimensional flight velocities, it is notable that although the values for Anisoptera are higher than those for Zygoptera, they are exceeded by the Calopterygidae; the latter can fold their wings back during rapid forward flight and shoot away, as in the ‘ballistic’ flight of small songbirds. However, the advance ratio is higher in Anisoptera than in Calopterygidae. Anisoptera also perform better than Zygoptera with respect to acceleration. Three categories of phase relationships between the beats of the fore- and hindwings are established: counterstroking, phase-shifted stroking and parallel stroking. Counterstroking produces uniform flight, whereas the flight produced by phase-shifted and, in particular, parallel stroking is irregular. The angles of attack of the wings are shown to be associated with particular flight manoeuvres, as are the stroke planes. Flight manoeuvres are discussed without drawing detailed aerodynamic conclusions. The flight of Anisoptera is compared with that of Zygoptera.

Systematic characterization of wing mechanosensors that monitor airflow and wing deformations

“…Flapping flight relies on the phasic generation of precise aerodynamic forces through coordinated wing movements. Dragonflies are especially interesting due to their four independently controlled wings, each with adjustable amplitude, frequency, and angle of attack ( Rüppell, 1989 ). This enables a large wing state-space, each with unique, time-dependent, aerodynamic, and inertial characteristics.…”

Design, Characterization, and Liftoff of an Insect-Scale Soft Robotic Dragonfly Powered by Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

“…The aerodynamic interaction between forewings and hindwings can influence aerodynamic efficiency, net lift production, and robot body oscillations during flight. Leveraging this interaction, a dragonfly can demonstrate exquisite body-flip maneuvers [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] through modulating its flapping-wing kinematics. Investigating forewing–hindwing interactions can benefit the efficiency and agility of flapping-wing robots.…”

Dragonfly flight: morphology, performance and behaviour

“…As their flight has been particularly extensively studied (e.g. Bomphrey, Nakata, Henningsson, & Lin, 2016;Newman, 1982;Rüppell, 1989;Thomas, Taylor, Srygley, Nudds, & Bomphrey, 2004;Wakeling, 1997;Wakeling & Ellington, 1997a, 1997b, 1997c they are perhaps the most appropriate of any insect group in which to explore the relationships between morphological diversity and the various techniques, performance capabilities and strategies of flight.…”

“…In Odonata, meso-and metathorax are morphologically similar and to a great extent operate independently, being capable of changing their mutual phasing and varying stroke amplitude and instantaneous wing shape and angle of attack both between the segments and on the two sides of the body. Frequency too can be varied -by a factor of 4 in displaying male Chlorocypha cancellata (Günther, 2015); and this unique kinematic flexibility allows remarkable levels of skill and versatility, reaching extremes in the diverse, complex behaviour patterns of calopterygoid damselflies (Günther, 2006(Günther, , 2015Hilfert-Rüppell & Rüppell, 2007;Orr, 2009;Rüppell, 1989).…”