Inspired by nature
Inspired by nature
The problem with designing and building very small flying machines is that one cannot simply continue reducing the size of existing aircraft designs. These use separate devices for propulsion and lift – the engines and the wings – and this takes up space. "Nature has solved the problem of how to build miniature flying machines," states Richard Bomphrey from the Zoology Department at the University of Oxford – with beating wings that combine propulsion and lift. To emulate this example from nature, a much more detailed understanding of the different functional aspects of insect wings needs to be gained. The insects are fixed to small rods with a drop of glue, which can be removed upon completion of the tests without harming them.
