Most complete exploration of fly landing maneuvers to advance future robots

To bring about a revolution and to develop advanced robotic technology, researchers from Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering and robotics have published the most complete description of how flying insects will perfectly land upside-down. “Through this work, it is a lot simpler and easier to understand how a fly executes the maneuvers of landing upside down in the blink of an eye,”stated Bo Cheng, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and lead author of the paper.

It's arguably said to be one of the most difficult and least-understood aerobatic as well as acrobatics maneuver conducted by flying insect. The study aims at understanding various aspects of biomechanical and biochemical processes that help the flies to land on different surfaces like ceilings and moving objects.

Their studies suggest that the insects usually land withfour perfectly timed maneuvers which help them to land upside down without any friction. This helps the flies to increase their speed, time of landing is perfect with a complete a rapid body rotational maneuver, to perform a sweeping leg extension, and finally land through a leg-assisted body swing when their feet are firmly planted on the ceiling.

“The researchers also believe these actions are set in motion by a series of complex visual and sensory cues the flies perceive as they approach their desired landing spot with less force and pressure,”stated Bo Cheng.