Kinematics and Aerodynamic Responses of Locusts in Sideslip

摘要

Effects of the sideslip angle on the wing-kinematics and the aerodynamic forces and moments generated by the locusts were investigated in a low-speed wind tunnel. Three locusts (Schistocerca americana) were tested at tunnel speeds of 0, 2, and 4 m/s at three body angles of attack (0°, 3° and 7°) and three sideslip angles (0°, -10° and -20°) at each angle of attack. A sensitive custom-built microbalance was used to measure the forces and moments. Simultaneous highspeed videos were taken to record the wing kinematics. Results in the form of normalized stroke-averaged forces and moments are presented and a correlation with the wing kinematics has been investigated.