Near wake vortex dynamics of a hovering hawkmoth

Numerical investigation of vortex dynamics in near wake of a hovering hawkmoth and hovering aerodynamics is conducted to support the development of a biology-inspired dynamic flight simulator for flapping wingbased micro air vehicles. Realistic wing-body morphologies and kinematics are adopted in the numerical simulations. The computed results show 3D mechanisms of vortical flow structures in hawkmoth-like hovering. A horseshoe-shaped primary vortex is observed to wrap around each wing during the early down- and upstroke; the horseshoe-shaped vortex subsequently grows into a doughnut-shaped vortex ring with an intense jet-flow present in its core, forming a downwash. The doughnut-shaped vortex rings of the wing pair eventu- ally break up into two circular vortex rings as they propagate downstream in the wake. The aerodynamic yawing and rolling torques are canceled out due to the symmetric wing kinematics even though the aerodynamic pitching torque shows significant variation with time. On the other hand, the time- varying the aerodynamics pitching torque could make the body a longitudinal oscillation over one flapping cycle.

Study of vertically ascending flight of a hawkmoth model

This paper provides insight into the wing kinematics,the power requirement and the dynamic stability characteristics of a hawkmoth model in vertically ascending flight.The wing kinematics of the hawkmoth model is obtained based on the minimum required power assumption.The optimization process is conducted using genetic and simplex algorithms that are coupled with an artificial neural network to rapidly predict the aerodynamic force and required power.The training data for the neural network are generated from an unsteady vortex-lattice method.Compared to hover,the results in this study show the larger flapping frequency and the smaller rotation amplitude of the hawkmoth wing kinematics in ascending flight.Additionally,more power is required when the ascending speed increases.While conducting a dynamic modal analysis based on a cycle-average approach,the certain effect of the ascending speed on the modal structures of the hawkmoth model was observed.

Experimental Investigation of Flexible Hawkmoth-like Wings on the Wing-wake Interaction in Hovering Flight

To study wing-wake interaction for various wing flexibilities, force measurements and digital particle image velocimetry were carried out on flapping hawkmoth-like wings in a water tank. Wing thickness was employed as a design variable for the wing flexi- bility distributions. Abrupt flap-down and phase delay in flexible wings influenced the behaviors of the Leading-Edge Vortex （LEV） and Trailing-Edge Vortex （TEV）, generated by the previous stroke. While the rigid wing exhibited a detached LEV at the end of the stroke, wing with specific flexibilities obtained attached LEVs. The attached LEVs induced a relatively rapid flow toward the wing surface as a result of encountering the TEV, and the flow caused a higher lift peak. On the other hand, the wings with larger wing deformations generated distinctive changes in LEV and TEV behaviors. The flap-down helped the TEV form closer to the wing surface, and it thus caused a downwash rather than wing-wake interaction. Furthermore, the most flexible wing had a newly-formed pair of LEVs above the wing during the wing reversal, thereby being not able to generate the wing-wake interaction. These results help to understand the different vortex structures generated by flexible wings during the wing reversal and the corresponding effects of wing-wake interaction.

Sex differences in the foraging behavior of a generalist hawkmoth

Within-species variation in pollinator behavior is widely observed, but its causes have been minimally investigated. Pollinator sex is associated with large differences in behavior that may lead to predictable differences in flower foraging, but this expectation has not been explicitly tested. We investigate sex-associated differences in nectar-foraging behavior of the hawkmoth Hyles lineata, using pollen on the proboscis as a proxy for flower visitation. We tested two predictions emerging from the literature: (1) the sexes differ in the flower species they visit, (2) females are more specialized in flower choice. We also examined potential drivers underlying these predictions by performing field and laboratory experiments to test whether males (3) switch among flower species more frequently, or (4) fly farther and therefore encounter more species than females. Consistent with prediction (1), pollen load composition differed between the sexes, indicative of visitation differences. Contrary to prediction (2), females consistently carried more species-rich pollen loads than males. (3) Both sexes switched between flower species at similar rates, suggesting that differences in floral fidelity are unlikely to explain why females are less specialized than males. (4) Males flew longer distances than females;coupled with larger between-site differences in pollen composition for females, this result suggests that sex differences in mobility influence foraging, and that females may forage more frequently and in smaller areas than males. Together, our results demonstrate that sex-associated foraging differences can be large and consistent over time, and highlight the importance of sex as a driver of variation in pollinator behavior.

一种用于研究鹰蛾悬停飞行的扑翼实验装置

研制了一套新型的能够在空气中模拟鹰蛾悬停飞行的扑翼模型实验装置。装置由模型翼面和主体、舵机驱动单元、运动控制与检测、测力天平和采集系统等五部分构成。模型在计算机的控制下按照鹰蛾悬停飞行的活体观测数据完成扑翼运动。与此同时,系统采集得到扑翼的实际运动曲线以及模型所受到的非定常气动力。实验结果表明,模型扑翼运动能很好地复现鹰蛾悬停飞行的动态过程;所测得的气动升力与鹰蛾的悬停条件相一致;由模型实验的升阻力数据所得的挥拍面前倾角也与活体观测结果相吻合。该模拟实验装置运动调节灵活,执行便捷,操控可靠,且能够测量空气中的微小非定常气动力,这为进一步深入研究扑翼运动的机理提供了方便的手段。

大豆害虫预报模型研究

本文从多元统计分析入手，对河南省中牟县历年大豆虫害情况，采用贝叶斯逐步判别分析方法。

蜂鸟与天蛾

蜂鸟是世界上极其珍稀的鸟类,绝大多数的人们对其都有所耳闻,但却极少能有幸一睹其真貌。2002年,有人称在本溪地区发现了"蜂鸟"的踪迹,并由新闻媒体进行了报道。本文就该"蜂鸟"的真伪进行了实地考察和认定,确认其为食蜜长喙天蛾而非蜂鸟。同时本文还对本溪地区出现的天蛾进行了初步介绍,为今后对长喙天蛾分布区域的研究提供部分参考。