Work

Kinematic Strategies of Dragonfly Free-Fall Recovery from an Asymmetric Body Roll

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ) free-fall recovery under asymmetric perturbations remains unclear. In this study, free-fall experiments were conducted using single-wing release to induce an initial asymmetric body roll, and three-dimensional kinematics were reconstructed using high-speed videography. The results show that the free-fall recovery process was divided into two phases based on body velocity: a free-fall phase with increasing downward velocity and a recovery phase marked by the cessation of this trend and a rise in horizontal velocity. During the free-fall phase, thorax roll developed and then attenuated, accompanied by relative abdominal and wing posture variations, without sustained wing flapping. Near the onset of recovery, hindwings initiated the downstroke earlier than forewings, forming a hindwing-leading flapping pattern. These findings indicate that dragonflies employ a phased kinematic strategy during asymmetric free-fall recovery, involving early body and wing posture adjustments followed by asymmetric wing flapping during the transition from gravity-dominated descent to maneuvering flight.

Source: Insects

DOI: 10.3390/insects17050529

Authors: Lingyun Shao, Heyu Li, Jiahao Zhang, Luyao Wang

Institutions: Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Northeastern University

Language: English

Topic: Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences