Summary
Tiny insects are surprisingly good flyers, but their aerodynamics are poorly understood because they are so small. Understanding their flight aerodynamics and abilities could lead to improved micro-aerial vehicle designs and new control strategies for agricultural pests. Measurements of the flow around flying tiny insects could help, but measurements are challenging because of the insects’ small size and because they beat their wings hundreds of times per second. This project will develop and validate a new approach to measuring flow based on techniques that improve imaging at small scales.
