Temporal Resolution of Flight Attitude Control in Dragonflies and Locusts: Lessons for the Design of Flapping-Wing MAVs

摘要

In order to identify stability constraints in flapping-winged MAVs, within the context of longitudinal stabilization of flight attitude, the question is examined whether insects are capable of controlling flight attitude at the temporal resolution of a single wing beat. It is found that the phenomenon of phase locking between a periodic light flash and the wingbeat of insects is suitable for the examination of the time resolution with which vision contributes to stabilization. In tethered locusts, flying in a wind tunnel with a wingbeat frequency of 22 Hz, phase locking can be readily obtained by a periodic stimulus of UV light. It is suggested that the effect is a by-product of the animal continuously trying to apply corrections. Therefore, in the closed-loop situation of free flight, frequency components of the visual input at or above wing beat rate are also present and must contribute to stability control. The response is mediated by the median ocellus. In dragonflies, with a wingbeat frequency of 50 Hz, the effect is not observed. This suggests that organisms or MAV of the size and wingbeat rate of locusts require active damping by visual inputs, whereas the same is not necessary in smaller systems.