Dragonflies Use Vision, Subtle Wing Control to Straighten Up and Fly Right
Published:23 May2022 Source:Cornell University
With their stretched bodies, immense wingspan and iridescent coloring, dragonflies are a unique sight. But their originality doesn't end with their looks: As one of the oldest insect species on the planet, they are an early innovator of aerial flight.
Now, a group led by Jane Wang, professor of mechanical engineering and physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, has untangled the intricate physics and neural controls that enable dragonflies to right themselves while they're falling.