The natural wind environment that volant insects encounter is unsteady and highly complex, posing... more The natural wind environment that volant insects encounter is unsteady and highly complex, posing significant flight-control and stability challenges. It is critical to understand the strategies insects employ to safely navigate in natural environments. We combined experiments on free flying bumblebees with high-fidelity numerical simulations and lower-order modeling to identify the mechanics that mediate insect flight in unsteady winds. We trained bumblebees to fly upwind towards an artificial flower in a wind tunnel under steady wind and in a von Kármán street formed in the wake of a cylinder. Analysis revealed that at lower frequencies in both steady and unsteady winds the bees mediated lateral movement with body roll - typical casting motion. Numerical simulations of a bumblebee in similar conditions permitted the separation of the passive and active components of the flight trajectories. Consequently, we derived simple mathematical models that describe these two motion components. Comparison between the free-flying live and modeled bees revealed a novel mechanism that enables bees to passively ride out high-frequency perturbations while performing active maneuvers at lower frequencies. The capacity of maintaining stability by combining passive and active modes at different timescales provides a viable means for animals and machines to tackle the challenges posed by complex airflows.
This chapter reviews the key areas of research focus in the Australian aviation sector, as well a... more This chapter reviews the key areas of research focus in the Australian aviation sector, as well as the associated needs, challenges and opportunities. The main topics include improved efficiency and capacity of airports, integrated Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and technologies, cost-effective through-life support of new and ageing aircraft, alternative fuels and low emission technologies. Additionally, advancements in aviation safety and security have been identified as a strategic focus area for aviation research in Australia. Both short-term and the long-term initiatives are essential to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector and are therefore being targeted by various industrial and government organisations.
The natural wind environment that volant insects encounter is unsteady and highly complex, posing... more The natural wind environment that volant insects encounter is unsteady and highly complex, posing significant flight-control and stability challenges. It is critical to understand the strategies insects employ to safely navigate in natural environments. We combined experiments on free flying bumblebees with high-fidelity numerical simulations and lower-order modeling to identify the mechanics that mediate insect flight in unsteady winds. We trained bumblebees to fly upwind towards an artificial flower in a wind tunnel under steady wind and in a von Kármán street formed in the wake of a cylinder. Analysis revealed that at lower frequencies in both steady and unsteady winds the bees mediated lateral movement with body roll - typical casting motion. Numerical simulations of a bumblebee in similar conditions permitted the separation of the passive and active components of the flight trajectories. Consequently, we derived simple mathematical models that describe these two motion components. Comparison between the free-flying live and modeled bees revealed a novel mechanism that enables bees to passively ride out high-frequency perturbations while performing active maneuvers at lower frequencies. The capacity of maintaining stability by combining passive and active modes at different timescales provides a viable means for animals and machines to tackle the challenges posed by complex airflows.
This chapter reviews the key areas of research focus in the Australian aviation sector, as well a... more This chapter reviews the key areas of research focus in the Australian aviation sector, as well as the associated needs, challenges and opportunities. The main topics include improved efficiency and capacity of airports, integrated Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and technologies, cost-effective through-life support of new and ageing aircraft, alternative fuels and low emission technologies. Additionally, advancements in aviation safety and security have been identified as a strategic focus area for aviation research in Australia. Both short-term and the long-term initiatives are essential to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector and are therefore being targeted by various industrial and government organisations.
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Papers by Chun Wang
essential to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector and are therefore being targeted by various industrial and government organisations.
essential to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector and are therefore being targeted by various industrial and government organisations.