Bumblebees land rapidly and robustly using a sophisticated modular flight control strategy

Pulkit Goyal,Antoine Cribellier,Guido C.H.E De Croon,Martin J Lankheet,Johan L Van Leeuwen,Remco P.M Pieters,Florian T Muijres

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.102407

Pulkit Goyal, Antoine Cribellier + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102407

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Abstract

SummaryWhen approaching a landing surface, many flying animals use visual feedback to control their landing. Here, we studied how foraging bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use radial optic expansion cues to control in-flight decelerations during landing. By analyzing the flight dynamics of 4,672 landing maneuvers, we showed that landing bumblebees exhibit a series of deceleration bouts, unlike landing honeybees that continuously decelerate. During each bout, the bumblebee keeps its relative rate of optical expansion constant, and from one bout to the next, the bumblebee tends to shift to a higher, constant relative rate of expansion. This modular landing strategy is relatively fast compared to the strategy described for honeybees and results in approach dynamics that is strikingly similar to that of pigeons and hummingbirds. The here discovered modular landing strategy of bumblebees helps explaining why these important pollinators in nature and horticulture can forage effectively in challenging conditions; moreover, it has potential for bio-inspired landing strategies in flying robots.

Highlights

Landing is essential for all flying animals, and successful landings require precise control of flight momentum to perform soft touchdown
By analyzing the flight dynamics of 4,672 landing maneuvers, we showed that landing bumblebees exhibit a series of deceleration bouts, unlike landing honeybees that continuously decelerate
The bumblebee keeps its relative rate of optical expansion constant, and from one bout to the the bumblebee tends to shift to a higher, constant relative rate of expansion

Summary

Introduction

Landing is essential for all flying animals, and successful landings require precise control of flight momentum to perform soft touchdown. This is relevant for foraging animals that use flight to routinely collect food. The animals can use this relative rate of expansion (or time to contact) to gradually reduce their flight speed when approaching the landing surface and touch down at near-zero speed (Lee et al, 1991; Lee et al, 1993, 2009; Baird et al, 2013)

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