Event

Abstract: Animal flight is awe-inspiring, and we can observe it around us in everyday life. From skillful foragers to efficient hunters and long-distance migrants, natural fliers demonstrate remarkable control and efficiency across a wide range of scales. In this talk, I will share insights from my work at the intersection of fluid dynamics and biology, where I use experimental models to study flapping wing flight. By replicating the unique wing designs of hovering species like the hawk moth (Manduca sexta) and the small, nectar-feeding Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina), we investigate how variations in wing flexibility, shape, and motion impact key aerodynamic features, such as vortex formation and energy efficiency. I will discuss how simplified models can capture wing deformation and aerodynamics and provide a framework to both understand strategies evolved in natural fliers and inform the design of more efficient aerial systems.