Butterfly-Inspired Flying Robots

Mechanical engineers aim high-speed video cameras at planet's prettiest bugs to obtain flight insights.

• Unraveling a Butterfly’s Aerial Antics Could Help Builders of Bug-Size Flying Robots
• The beautiful science of a butterfly's flight
• Rajat Mittal, Johns Hopkins University

Inside Science Buzzwords:

1. Micro aerial vehicle (MAV) - an unmanned aerial vehicle that is designed to be small and in some cases may possess the ability to maneuver on its own.
2. Flight dynamics - the study of how forces, such as gravity and friction, influence a flying object's speed and maneuverability.
3. Maneuverability - the ability to avoid obstacles and shift positions quickly and easily.