The Neuronal Control of Dragonfly Flight

Simmons, Peter

doi:10.1242/jeb.71.1.123

Cited by 33 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 67 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Also, the relatively small stroke amplitude of a dragonfly may indicate that the unsteady effects are important in force generation (Sun 2005). Furthermore, the dragonfly has structural and functional peculiarities in the wing muscle organization and innervation mechanism to control four wings independently (Simmons 1977, Svidersky et al 2008; thus, the flight of a dragonfly is a good actuation model for flapping-type micro air vehicle to enhance its maneuverability. Usherwood (2009) also suggested that with appropriate phasing of fore-and hindwings the dragonflies may have increased the aerodynamic efficiency by recovering energy wasted in the non-downward motion of the wake of forewing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinematic control of aerodynamic forces on an inclined flapping wing with asymmetric strokes

Park¹,

Choi²

2012

Bioinspir. Biomim.

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In the present study, we conduct an experiment using a one-paired dynamically scaled model of an insect wing, to investigate how asymmetric strokes with different wing kinematic parameters are used to control the aerodynamics of a dragonfly-like inclined flapping wing in still fluid. The kinematic parameters considered are the angles of attack during the mid-downstroke (α(md)) and mid-upstroke (α(mu)), and the duration (Δτ) and time of initiation (τ(p)) of the pitching rotation. The present dragonfly-like inclined flapping wing has the aerodynamic mechanism of unsteady force generation similar to those of other insect wings in a horizontal stroke plane, but the detailed effect of the wing kinematics on the force control is different due to the asymmetric use of the angle of attack during the up- and downstrokes. For example, high α(md) and low α(mu) produces larger vertical force with less aerodynamic power, and low α(md) and high α(mu) is recommended for horizontal force (thrust) production. The pitching rotation also affects the aerodynamics of a flapping wing, but its dynamic rotational effect is much weaker than the effect from the kinematic change in the angle of attack caused by the pitching rotation. Thus, the influences of the duration and timing of pitching rotation for the present inclined flapping wing are found to be very different from those for a horizontal flapping wing. That is, for the inclined flapping motion, the advanced and delayed rotations produce smaller vertical forces than the symmetric one and the effect of pitching duration is very small. On the other hand, for a specific range of pitching rotation timing, delayed rotation requires less aerodynamic power than the symmetric rotation. As for the horizontal force, delayed rotation with low α(md) and high α(mu) is recommended for long-duration flight owing to its high efficiency, and advanced rotation should be employed for hovering flight for nearly zero horizontal force. The present study suggests that manipulating the angle of attack during a flapping cycle is the most effective way to control the aerodynamic forces and corresponding power expenditure for a dragonfly-like inclined flapping wing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinematic control of aerodynamic forces on an inclined flapping wing with asymmetric strokes

Park¹,

Choi²

2012

Bioinspir. Biomim.

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Morphological identification of the motor neurons innervating the dorsal longitudinal flight muscle of Drosophila melanogaster

Ikeda

Koenig

1988

J of Comparative Neurology

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The dorsal longitudinal flight muscle (DLM) of Drosophila is composed of six muscle fibers (DLM1-6 from ventral to dorsal) and innervated by five motor neurons (MNs), DLM1-4 being innervated singly by MN1-4, and DLM5 and 6 being jointly innervated by MN5. This study identifies and describes the five motor neurons that innervate these six muscle fibers. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) applied intracellularly to single identified DLM fibers resulted in the labeling of the single motor neuron innervating that muscle fiber by retrograde transsynaptic transport. This method allowed positive identification of the motor neuron innervating a particular muscle fiber, since only the innervating neuron was labeled. The axonal pathway, soma, and dendritic distribution of each labeled motor neuron was traced in the thoracic ganglion, and their relative positions were determined. The somata of MN1-4 lie in a cluster located near the lateral surface of the thoracic ganglion at the border of the pro- and mesothoracic regions, ipsilateral to the muscle fibers innervated. The somata of MN1 and 2 lie side by side in a horizontal plane with MN1 in a more anterior position. Those of MN3 and 4 lie ventrally to those of MN1 and 2 in a horizontal plane with MN3 in the more anterior position. The soma of MN5 is located contralaterally to the muscle fiber it innervates, lying in the dorsal outermost layer of the thoracic ganglion next to the midline at the border of the pro- and mesothoracic regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Serial homologies of the motor neurons of the dorsal intersegmental muscles of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)

Davis

1983

Journal of Morphology

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The types and locations of serially homologous motor neurons of the dorsal muscles in the cockroach Periplaneta americana remain rather constant regardless of the various adaptations of their muscles or the fusion of ganglia. However, the size and number of neurons do vary according to the development of the muscles they innervate. Neurons in four distinctive locations, two ipsisegmental and two antesegmental, innervate the dorsal longitudinal (DL) muscles in most segments. One of the ipsisegmental neurons (DLC) is common to all of the DL muscles of a segment and probably has a modulatory function. The dorsal oblique (DO) muscles of most segments have neurons in two antesegmental positions. One of these, an antesegmental, contralateral neuron, innervates both DO and DL muscles in each segment and is also probably modulatory. One neuron (DOC) of the prothoracic ganglion is the principal exception to the constancy of these serially homologous neurons. This neuron appears to be homologous to the DLC neurons of other segments but innervates the DO rather than the DL muscles.

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The Neuronal Control of Dragonfly Flight

Cited by 33 publications

References 67 publications

Kinematic control of aerodynamic forces on an inclined flapping wing with asymmetric strokes

Kinematic control of aerodynamic forces on an inclined flapping wing with asymmetric strokes

Morphological identification of the motor neurons innervating the dorsal longitudinal flight muscle of Drosophila melanogaster

Serial homologies of the motor neurons of the dorsal intersegmental muscles of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)

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