Abdominal Movements in Insect Flight Reshape the Role of Non-Aerodynamic Structures for Flight Maneuverability I: Model Predictive Control for Flower Tracking.

ABSTRACT: Research on insect flight control has focused primarily on the role of wings. Yet abdominal deflections during flight can potentially influence the dynamics of flight. This paper assesses the role of airframe deformations in flight, and asks to what extent the abdomen contributes to flight maneuverability. To address this, we use a combination of both a Model Predictive Control (MPC)-inspired computational inertial dynamics model, and free flight experiments in the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. We explored both underactuated (i.e., number of outputs are greater than the number of inputs) and fully actuated (equal number of outputs and inputs) systems. Using metrics such as the non-dimensionalized tracking error and cost of transport to evaluate flight performance of the inertial d

SUBMITTER: Bustamante J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9555208 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature