21st Century Researchers Use Insects As Models For Progress

In recent years, various scientific research groups and major universities have been working on manufacturing micro-flight vehicles by imitating insects’ flight mechanisms. One of the most important of these is supported by the British-based Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and is playing a key role in the new aerial vehicles' development.27

Dr. Richard Bomphrey, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, says that the findings from analysis of the architecture of insects’ wings “will make it possible to aerodynamically engineer a new breed of surveillance vehicles that, because they're as small as insects and also fly like them, completely blend into their surroundings."

The research team uses cutting-edge computer modeling capabilities and the latest high-speed, high-resolution camera technology to investigate insect wing structure and performance. Key to the work is the calculation of air flow velocities around insect wings. This is achieved by placing insects in a wind tunnel, seeding the air with a light fog and illuminating the particles with pulsing laser light - a technique called Particle Image Velocimetry.28

According to Dr. Bomphery, different types of insect wing serve different purposes. “For instance,” he says, “bees are load-lifters, a predator such as a dragonfly is fast and maneuverable, and creatures like locusts have to range over vast distances.” Investigating the differences between insect wing structures has been a key focus in engineering micro flying robots. These ecological differences have led to a variety of wing designs depending on the task needing to be performed. Micro flying vehicles and micro-cameras installed on them will be able to be used in a great many fields.29

Despite all the specialists working on the subject and all the technological means at their disposal, it is thought that insect-sized flying machines will only become a reality in the next 20 years.

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