Chapter 2

Flight a Retrospect a Brief Review

N. Chari and Ponna Srinivas

Abstract This review of literature on Biophysics of Insect Flight can broadly

be divided into four subdivisions. Early experimental investigations on wingbeat

frequency and related parameters using simple mechanical, optical and electrical

devices were carried out during 1934–1955. Advanced flight techniques for finding

wingbeat frequency, wing mutilations, vortex theory, wing kinematics and detailed

lift enhancing mechanisms were developed during 1956–1984. During the period

of 1985–2008, studies on power requirements of a few insects have been analyzed.

Shyy et al. (Prog Aerosp Sci 46(7):284–327, 2010) have discussed progress in the

aerodynamics and aeroelasticity at low Re. As Re increases, velocity also increases.

Recently, researchers are exploring the possibility of designing the Biomimicking

MAVs based on the principles of insect flight. We may be able to design the MAV

of Insect size in a decade or so.

Keywords Lift enhancing devices · LEV · Wing kinematics · Low Re fliers ·

Vortex textures

Review of Literature

Early experimental investigations of insect flight were carried out by Magnan [1].

He used a high-speed photography technique to study the pattern of wingbeats and

also to determine wingbeat frequency. Chadwick [2] used the electronic stroboscope

for determining the wingbeat frequency of insects in tethered flight. Pringle [3]

described the gyroscopic mechanism of halters in Dipteran fliers. He also explained

“Excitation–Contraction-Coupling” of insect flight muscles. Pringle also reported

that fundamental thoracic movements in insects are identical with the wingbeat

frequency. He used piezoelectric crystal, phonograph pick up and an oscilloscope to

study the wingbeat frequency of insects.

N. Chari (B)

Kakatiya University, Warangel, India

P. Srinivas

DR. BR Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, India

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021

N. Chari et al. (eds.), Biophysics of Insect Flight, Springer Series in Biophysics 22,

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5184-7_2

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