A Methodology for the Kinematic and Unsteady Dynamics Analysis of Bat Flight

Abstract

A methodology to capture and post-process bat flight 3-D Stereo Triangulation data to formulate an approximated rigid body kinematic model was investigated. Bat flight is unique in nature due to the bats inherent agility and many degrees of freedom when compared to other flying animals. This complexity makes capturing accurate aerodynamic data very difficult. Unlike insects, which utilize few degrees of freedom and a high flap frequency for sustained flight and maneuverability, the agility of bats comes in part from the many degrees of freedom present in the bat wing. In order to better understand the aerodynamics present in bat flight, bats Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats) were examined. The trajectories of critical points along the bat wings were recorded using 3D stereo triangulation techniques to capture the complexities of the bat flight. Markers were placed at all the joint locations along the bat wing. The resulting trajectories were then translated into a periodic kinematic model for future computational use.