A micro-aircraft that flies with the maneuverability and energy efficiency of locusts is round the corner. This has been made possible after decoding the aerodynamic secrets of locusts.
Dr John Young, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, and a team of animal flight researchers from Oxford University's Department of Zoology, used high-speed digital video cameras to capture how the shape of a locust's wing changes in flight. They used that information to create a computer model for detailed analysis.
Locusts fly extremely long distances on very limited energy reserves. This has always been a riddle. Now scientists are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and hope to design a micro-light with the efficiency of the wings of locusts.
Details of the interesting study appear in the latest issue of journal Science.
No comments:
Post a Comment