A Numerical Analysis of Inertial Torques in the Steering Maneuvers of Hovering Drosophila

A mathematical model of rigid multibody dynamics with one three bodies was built firstly, based on which, the contribution of inertial torques during the steering maneuvers of a hovering Drosophilawas analyzed systematically. To eliminate the contribution of aerodynamics, the flying maneuvers were simulated within vacuum. The wings’ kinematics schemes and morphological parameters were idealized in concordance with those of real Drosophila. Several kinds of wing kinematics were analyzed, and the simulation results imply that inertial torques may play a role in the steering maneuvers of insect free flight. For the symmetrical flapping motion of bilateral wings, the inertial pitch torque conducts the rotation tendency of nose-up climbing or nose-down falling. And for the asymmetrical flapping cases, all inertial torques can influence synthetically the attitude of whole insect and finally result in the corresponding steering maneuvers. The simulation also suggests that the inertial torques due to wings supination may effectively contribute to insect steering maneuvers.