Agile perching maneuvers in birds and morphing-wing drones

Valentin Wüest (), Simon Jeger, Mir Feroskhan, Enrico Ajanic, Fabio Bergonti and Dario Floreano ()
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Valentin Wüest: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Simon Jeger: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Mir Feroskhan: Nanyang Technological University
Enrico Ajanic: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Fabio Bergonti: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Dario Floreano: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Avian perching maneuvers are one of the most frequent and agile flight scenarios, where highly optimized flight trajectories, produced by rapid wing and tail morphing that generate high angular rates and accelerations, reduce kinetic energy at impact. While the behavioral, anatomical, and aerodynamic factors involved in these maneuvers are well described, the underlying control strategies are poorly understood. Here, we use optimal control methods on an avian-inspired drone with morphing wing and tail to test a recent hypothesis derived from perching maneuver experiments of Harris’ hawks that birds minimize the distance flown at high angles of attack to dissipate kinetic energy before impact. The resulting drone flight trajectories, morphing sequence, and kinetic energy distribution resemble those measured in birds. Furthermore, experimental manipulation of the wings that would be difficult or unethical with animals reveals the morphing factors that are critical for optimal perching maneuver performance of birds and morphing-wing drones.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52369-4

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