The Weis-Fogh Number Describes Resonant Performance Tradeoffs in Flapping Insects DOI

Ethan S Wold,

Ellen Liu,

James Lynch

et al.

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(2), P. 632 - 643

Published: May 29, 2024

Dimensionless numbers have long been used in comparative biomechanics to quantify competing scaling relationships and connect morphology animal performance. While common aerodynamics, few relate the of organism forces produced on environment during flight. We discuss Weis-Fogh number, N, as a dimensionless number specific flapping flight, which describes resonant properties an insect resulting tradeoffs between energetics control. Originally defined by Torkel his seminal 1973 paper, N measures ratio peak inertial aerodynamic torque generated over wingbeat. In this perspectives piece, we define for biologists describe its interpretations torques width insect's resonance curve. then range realized insects explain fundamental efficiency, stability, responsiveness that arise consequence variation both across within species. is therefore especially useful quantity approaches role mechanics aerodynamics

Language: Английский

Acrobatics at the insect scale: A durable, precise, and agile micro–aerial robot DOI
Suhan Kim, Yi‐Hsuan Hsiao, Zhijian Ren

et al.

Science Robotics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10(98)

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Aerial insects are exceptionally agile and precise owing to their small size fast neuromotor control. They perform impressive acrobatic maneuvers when evading predators, recovering from wind gust, or landing on moving objects. Flapping-wing propulsion is advantageous for flight agility because it can generate large changes in instantaneous forces torques. During flapping-wing flight, wings, hinges, tendons of pterygote endure deformation high stress hundreds times each second, highlighting the outstanding flexibility fatigue resistance biological structures materials. In comparison, engineered materials microscale subgram micro–aerial vehicles (MAVs) exhibit substantially shorter lifespans. Consequently, most MAVs limited hovering less than 10 seconds following simple trajectories at slow speeds. Here, we developed a 750-milligram MAV that demonstrated improved lifespan, speed, accuracy, agility. With transmission hinge designs reduced off-axis torsional deformation, robot achieved 1000-second two orders magnitude longer existing MAVs. This also performed complex with under 1-centimeter root mean square error more 30 centimeters per second average speed. lift-to-weight ratio 2.2 maximum ascending speed 100 this double body flips rotational rate exceeding fastest aerial larger These results highlight insect-like endurance, precision, an at-scale MAV, opening opportunities future research sensing power autonomy.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
New Opportunity: Materials Genome Strategy for Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) Design DOI
Wenguang Chen, Long Liang, Fangming Jiang

et al.

Cement and Concrete Composites, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 159, P. 106009 - 106009

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Synaptic architecture of leg and wing premotor control networks inDrosophila DOI Creative Commons
Ellen Lesser, Anthony W. Azevedo, Jasper S. Phelps

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 31, 2023

Animal movement is controlled by motor neurons (MNs), which project out of the central nervous system to activate muscles. MN activity coordinated complex premotor networks that allow individual muscles contribute many different behaviors. Here, we use connectomics analyze wiring logic circuits controlling

Language: Английский

Citations

17
Statistical signature of subtle behavioral changes in large-scale assays DOI Creative Commons
Alexandre Blanc, François Laurent, Alex Barbier–Chebbah

et al.

PLoS Computational Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(4), P. e1012990 - e1012990

Published: April 21, 2025

The central nervous system can generate various behaviors, including motor responses, which we observe through video recordings. Recent advances in gene manipulation, automated behavioral acquisition at scale, and machine learning enable us to causally link behaviors their underlying neural mechanisms. Moreover, some animals, such as the Drosophila melanogaster larva, this mapping is possible unprecedented scale of single neurons, allowing identify microcircuits generating particular behaviors. These high-throughput screening efforts, linking activation or suppression specific neurons patterns millions provide a rich dataset explore diversity responses same stimuli. However, important challenges remain identifying subtle immediate delayed suppression, understanding these on large scale. We here introduce several statistically robust methods for analyzing data response challenges: 1) A generative physical model that regularizes inference larval shapes across entire dataset. 2) An unsupervised kernel-based method statistical testing learned spaces aimed detecting deviations behavior. 3) sequences, providing benchmark higher-order changes. 4) comprehensive analysis technique using suffix trees categorize genetic lines into clusters based common action sequences. showcase methodologies screen focused an air puff, from 280 716 larvae 569 lines.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Single-cell type analysis of wing premotor circuits in the ventral nerve cord of Drosophila melanogaster DOI Open Access
Erica Ehrhardt, Samuel C. Whitehead, Shigehiro Namiki

et al.

Published: May 6, 2025

To perform most behaviors, animals must send commands from higher-order processing centers in the brain to premotor circuits that reside ganglia distinct brain, such as mammalian spinal cord or insect ventral nerve cord. How these are functionally organized generate great diversity of animal behavior remains unclear. An important first step unraveling organization is identify their constituent cell types and create tools monitor manipulate with high specificity assess functions. This possible tractable fly. a toolkit, we used combinatorial genetic technique (split-GAL4) 195 sparse transgenic driver lines targeting 196 individual These included wing haltere motoneurons, modulatory neurons, interneurons. Using combination behavioral, developmental, anatomical analyses, systematically characterized targeted our collection. In addition, identified correspondences between cells this collection recent connectomic data set Taken together, resources results presented here form powerful toolkit for future investigations neuronal connectivity while linking them behavioral outputs.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Single-cell type analysis of wing premotor circuits in the ventral nerve cord of Drosophila melanogaster DOI Open Access
Erica Ehrhardt, Samuel C. Whitehead, Shigehiro Namiki

et al.

Published: May 6, 2025

To perform most behaviors, animals must send commands from higher-order processing centers in the brain to premotor circuits that reside ganglia distinct brain, such as mammalian spinal cord or insect ventral nerve cord. How these are functionally organized generate great diversity of animal behavior remains unclear. An important first step unraveling organization is identify their constituent cell types and create tools monitor manipulate with high specificity assess functions. This possible tractable fly. a toolkit, we used combinatorial genetic technique (split-GAL4) 195 sparse transgenic driver lines targeting 196 individual These included wing haltere motoneurons, modulatory neurons, interneurons. Using combination behavioral, developmental, anatomical analyses, systematically characterized targeted our collection. In addition, identified correspondences between cells this collection recent connectomic data set Taken together, resources results presented here form powerful toolkit for future investigations neuronal connectivity while linking them behavioral outputs.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Insect Flight: State of the Field and Future Directions DOI
Lisa A. Treidel, Kevin D Deem, Mary K. Salcedo

et al.

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(2), P. 533 - 555

Published: July 8, 2024

The evolution of flight in an early winged insect ancestral lineage is recognized as a key adaptation explaining the unparalleled success and diversification insects. Subsequent transitions modifications to machinery, including secondary reductions losses, also play central role shaping impacts insects on broadscale geographic ecological processes patterns present future. Given importance flight, there has been centuries-long history research debate evolutionary origins biological mechanisms flight. Here, we revisit this from interdisciplinary perspective, discussing recent discoveries regarding developmental origins, physiology, biomechanics, neurobiology sensory control diverse set models. We identify major outstanding questions yet be addressed provide recommendations for overcoming current methodological challenges faced when studying which will allow field continue move forward new exciting directions. By integrating mechanistic work into contexts, hope that synthesis promotes stimulates efforts necessary close many existing gaps about causes consequences evolution.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Statistical signature of subtle behavioural changes in large-scale behavioural assays DOI Creative Commons
Alexandre Blanc, François Laurent, Alex Barbier–Chebbah

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 5, 2024

Abstract The central nervous system can generate various behaviours, including motor responses, which we observe through video recordings. Recent advancements in genetics, automated behavioural acquisition at scale, and machine learning enable us to link behaviours their underlying neural mechanisms causally. Moreover, some animals, such as the Drosophila larva, this mapping is possible unprecedented scales of millions animals single neurons, allowing identify circuits generating particular behaviours. These high-throughput screening efforts are invaluable, linking activation or suppression specific neurons patterns animals. This provides a rich dataset explore how diverse responses be same stimuli. However, challenges remain identifying subtle from these large datasets, immediate delayed suppression, understanding on scale. We introduce several statistically robust methods for analyzing data response challenges: 1) A generative physical model that regularizes inference larval shapes across entire dataset. 2) An unsupervised kernel-based method statistical testing learned spaces aimed detecting deviations behaviour. 3) sequences, providing benchmark complex changes. 4) comprehensive analysis technique using suffix trees categorize genetic lines into clusters based common action sequences. showcase methodologies screen focused an air puff, 280,716 larvae 568 lines. Author Summary There significant gap between architecture selection behaviour generation. have emerged ideal platform simultaneously probing neuronal computation [1]. Modern tools allow efficient silencing individual small groups neurons. Combining techniques with standardized stimuli over thousands individuals makes it relate extracting relationships massive noisy recordings requires development new approaches. suite utilize overarching structure deduce changes raw data. Given our study’s extensive number larvae, addressing preempting potential body shape recognition critical enhancing detection. To end, adopted physics-informed model. Our first group enables within continuous latent space, facilitating detection shifts relative reference second array probes variations sequences by comparing them bespoke Together, strategies enabled construct representations lineage roster ”hit” influence subtly.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
The Weis-Fogh Number Describes Resonant Performance Tradeoffs in Flapping Insects DOI

Ethan S Wold,

Ellen Liu,

James Lynch

et al.

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 64(2), P. 632 - 643

Published: May 29, 2024

Dimensionless numbers have long been used in comparative biomechanics to quantify competing scaling relationships and connect morphology animal performance. While common aerodynamics, few relate the of organism forces produced on environment during flight. We discuss Weis-Fogh number, N, as a dimensionless number specific flapping flight, which describes resonant properties an insect resulting tradeoffs between energetics control. Originally defined by Torkel his seminal 1973 paper, N measures ratio peak inertial aerodynamic torque generated over wingbeat. In this perspectives piece, we define for biologists describe its interpretations torques width insect's resonance curve. then range realized insects explain fundamental efficiency, stability, responsiveness that arise consequence variation both across within species. is therefore especially useful quantity approaches role mechanics aerodynamics

Language: Английский

Citations

1