Direct Measurements of the Wing Kinematics of a Bat in Straight Flight

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeep Kumar Singh ◽  
Li-Biao Zhang ◽  
Jing-Shan Zhao

Abstract Bat is the only mammal in the nature that can fly. Compared with birds and insects, bats are quite special in that their wings are formed by an elastic membrane, which renders that the airfoil deforms greatly during downstroke and upstroke. Due to the compliant skin of a bat, the movements of its wings are three-dimensionally complex during diverse flight behaviors. To understand the maneuverability and flight performance, three-dimensional reconstruction of the flight kinematics is essential. This study focuses on the reconstruction of the wing kinematics of the bat and identifies the primary relationship of parameters of aerodynamics in straight flight. With markers pasted on the wings and body of a bat, the motions of these points are recorded by a computerized optical motion capture system. The kinematic analysis shows that the motion of wings is very intricate. The digits of the wing display the sign of coupled motion. A novel approach was developed to measure the angle of attack and flapping angle of the wing. The angle of attack of leading edge differs with the overall angle of attack of the wing. The kinematics of the bat's wing is helpful to interpret the secret of the bat's flight.

2015 ◽  
Vol 767 ◽  
pp. 782-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Garmann ◽  
M. R. Visbal

AbstractA canonical study is developed to investigate the unsteady interactions of a streamwise-oriented vortex impinging upon a finite surface using high-fidelity simulation. As a model problem, an analytically defined vortex superimposed on a free stream is convected towards an aspect-ratio-six ($\mathit{AR}=6$) plate oriented at an angle of ${\it\alpha}=4^{\circ }$ and Reynolds number of $\mathit{Re}=20\,000$ in order to characterize the unsteady modes of interaction resulting from different spanwise positions of the incoming vortex. Outboard, tip-aligned and inboard positioning are shown to produce three distinct flow regimes: when the vortex is positioned outboard of, but in close proximity to, the wingtip, it pairs with the tip vortex to form a dipole that propels itself away from the plate through mutual induction, and also leads to an enhancement of the tip vortex. When the incoming vortex is aligned with the wingtip, the tip vortex is initially strengthened by the proximity of the incident vortex, but both structures attenuate into the wake as instabilities arise in the pair’s feeding sheets from the entrainment of opposite-signed vorticity into either structure. Finally, when the incident vortex is positioned inboard of the wingtip, the vortex bifurcates in the time-mean sense with portions convecting above and below the wing, and the tip vortex is mostly suppressed. The time-mean bifurcation is actually a result of an unsteady spiralling instability in the vortex core that reorients the vortex as it impacts the leading edge, pinches off, and alternately attaches to either side of the wing. The increased effective angle of attack inboard of impingement enhances the three-dimensional recirculation region created by the separated boundary layer off the leading edge which draws fluid from the incident vortex inboard and diminishes its impact on the outboard section of the wing. The slight but remaining downwash present outboard of impingement reduces the effective angle of attack in that region, resulting in a small separation bubble on either side of the wing in the time-mean solution, effectively unloading the tip outboard of impingement and suppressing the tip vortex. All incident vortex positions provide substantial increases in the wing’s lift-to-drag ratio; however, significant sustained rolling moments also result. As the vortex is brought inboard, the rolling moment diminishes and eventually switches sign as the reduced outboard loading balances the augmented sectional lift inboard of impingement.


Author(s):  
Hiroshi Nishizawa ◽  
Satoshi Fujita ◽  
Osamu Furuya

In order to clarify the destruction mechanism of large structures in large seismic movements, a non-contacting displacement measurement system with a three-dimensional dynamic position with high precision is required. We have developed a three-dimensional measuring system with image processing using optical motion capture technology. This system consists of light emitting markers installed on the object structure and plural high speed cameras which obtain images of markers’ movement simultaneously, to measure the dynamic position of the three dimensional spatial coordinates of the markers. In order to measure the dynamic position with high precision, we have ever developed sub-pixel processing method which is able to measure very small displacements of the markers by analyzing the luminance distribution. Moreover, we have developed a new marker of spherical surface emission type which formed the luminance profile to improve furthermore the accuracy in rotational movement. Shaking tests were carried out with this measuring system and the results indicated that this system using new markers had sufficient accuracy within errors of a few millimeters in the structure of a 4 meter cube. Consequently, we have acquired the potential to apply to the measurement to the 3-D Full Scale Earthquake Testing Facility (E-Defense).


Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Dongmei Wang ◽  
Mariska Wesseling ◽  
Bin Xue ◽  
Feiyue Li

This study aimed to find an optimal measurement protocol of elbow and forearm kinematics using different modelling and tracking methods. Kinematic data of elbow flexion/extension and forearm pronation/supination was acquired using optical motion capture from 12 healthy male volunteers. Segment coordinate systems for humerus, forearm, radius, ulna, and hand were defined. Different tracking methods, using anatomical markers or rigid or point maker clusters, were used to compute the three-dimensional rotations. Marker placement errors were assessed to evaluate the rigid body assumption. Multiple comparisons demonstrated statistical differences between tracking methods: compared to using only anatomical markers, tracking using clusters reduced the estimated range of pronation/supination by 14.9%–43.2%, while it estimated increased flexion/extension by 5.3%–9.1%. The study suggests using only anatomical markers exerts the optimal estimation of elbow and forearm kinematics. Modelling using the coordinate systems of the humerus and forearm and of the humerus and ulna, respectively, demonstrated good consistency with literature and are correspondingly regarded as the most appropriate approach for measuring pronation/supination and flexion/extension. The results are valuable in establishing a measurement protocol for analysing elbow and forearm kinematics, avoiding confusions and misinterpretations in communicating results from different methodologies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8426
Author(s):  
Cheng-Chung Lin ◽  
Tung-Wu Lu ◽  
Jia-Da Li ◽  
Mei-Ying Kuo ◽  
Chien-Chun Kuo ◽  
...  

Model-based tracking of the movement of the tibiofemoral joint via a biplane X-ray imaging system has been commonly used to reproduce its accurate, three-dimensional kinematics. To accommodate the approaches to existing clinical asynchronous biplane fluoroscopy systems and achieve comparable accuracy, this study proposed an automated model-based interleaved biplane fluoroscopy image tracking scheme (MIBFT) by incorporating information of adjacent image frames. The MIBFT was evaluated with a cadaveric study conducted on a knee specimen. The MIBFT reproduced skeletal poses and tibiofemoral kinematics that were in good agreement with the standard reference kinematics provided by an optical motion capture system, in which the root-mean-squared (Rms) errors of the skeletal pose parameters ranged from 0.11 to 0.35 mm in translation and 0.18 to 0.49° in rotation. The influences of rotation speed on the pose errors were below 0.23 mm and 0.26°. The MIBFT-determined bias, precision, and Rms error were comparable to those of the reported model-based tracking techniques using custom-made synchronous biplane fluoroscopy. The results suggested that the further use of the clinical imaging system is feasible for the noninvasive and precise examination of dynamic joint functions and kinematics in clinical practice and biomechanical research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Koki Numata ◽  
Yoshie Motoshima ◽  
Koji Hamada ◽  
Misato Sakanaka ◽  
Shunsuke Murakami ◽  
...  

In recent years, the attacking tactics of top-level teams have been dominated by a combination of four attackers. The basic approach to defending against this move is to block in the direction of the toss (Read Block System). This study compares and examines the difference between the left and right sides of the crossover step of women's volleyball players using the read block system. Fifteen Japanese college women's volleyball players (age: 20.1±1.1 years, height: 169.3±5.5 cm) were eligible for the study. A time-synchronized 16 camera Mac3D optical motion capture systems (Motion Analysis Co.) and 10 force plates (Tec Gihan Co.) were used to determine three dimensional (3-D) coordinates of 38 retroreflective markers. The players were told that the toss from the setter would go up randomly in one of the left or right direction, and they were asked to block in response to the toss from the centre of the net. The results showed that the performance of the jump height (p = 0.04, d =0.50), maximum block reach (p = 0.01, d =0.51), and motion time (p =0.02, d =0.75) was better than the left, and the effect size was large. Since most of the subjects in this study were right-handed (two of the Opposites were left-handed), it is assumed that they tended to perform better on the left side, which is a block stepping similar to spike stepping. However, some players may not use the spiking hand, so individualized instruction is required.


1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (21) ◽  
pp. 2693-2704 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Willmott ◽  
C Ellington

A robust technique for determining the angle of attack of insect wings from film of free flight has to date proved elusive. This report describes the development of two new methods ­ the Strips and Planes techniques ­ which were designed to overcome some of the limitations experienced in previous studies. The accuracy and robustness of these novel methods were tested extensively using simulated hawkmoth wing outlines generated for a realistic range of wing positions and torsion. The results were compared with those from two existing methods ­ the Symmetry and Landmarks procedures. The performance of the latter technique will be strongly species-dependent; it could not be successfully applied to hawkmoth flight because of practical difficulties in obtaining suitable landmarks. The Planes method was the least successful of the remaining techniques, especially during those phases of the wingbeat when the orientations of the two wings relative to the camera viewpoint were similar. The Symmetry and Strips methods were tested further to investigate the effects on their performance of introducing additional camber or wing motion asymmetry. The results showed clearly that the Strips method should be the technique of choice wherever the axis of wing torsion is close to the longitudinal axis of the wing. The procedure involves the experimenter matching a model wing divided into chordwise strips to the true wing outline digitized from high-speed film. The use of strips rather than the points digitized in previous studies meant that the analysis required only one wing outline to be digitized. Symmetry of motion between the left and right wings is not assumed. The implications of requiring human input to the Strips method, as opposed to the strictly numerical algorithms of the alternative techniques, are discussed. It is argued that the added flexibility that this provides in dealing with images which have typically been recorded in suboptimal conditions outweighs the introduction of an element of subjectivity. Additional observations arising from the use of the Strips analysis with high-speed video sequences of hawkmoth flight are given.


2014 ◽  
Vol 568-570 ◽  
pp. 676-680
Author(s):  
Si Xi Chen ◽  
Shu Chen

The application of digital technology on the protection of intangible cultural heritage is a major topic of research in recent years. The motion capture technology of protection will gradually replace the traditional recording methods such as texts, pictures and videos. It is valuable to build a high-fidelity, high-modular and low-cost digital platform for choreographic data collection and extended application. This paper studies the intangible cultural heritage of Quanzhou breast-clapping dance, one of the most famous choreographic intangible cultural heritages from China with standard optical motion capture method. The data are acquiring and processing after the dance motion capture, we binds the motion data and three-dimensional model using Motion Builder and build digital demonstration platform base on an OGRE engine to display the movements. The viewer can view at any angle and distance. The system can be easily applied in motion intangible cultural heritages protection project. Furthermore, the system can be provided versatile motion data for additional use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 200-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Chen ◽  
Dmitry Kolomenskiy ◽  
Hao Liu

Flapping and revolving wings can produce attached leading-edge vortices when the angle of attack is large. In this work, a low-order model is proposed for the edge vortices that develop on a revolving plate at $90^{\circ }$ angle of attack, which is the simplest limiting case, yet shows remarkable similarity with the generally known leading-edge vortices. The problem is solved analytically, providing short closed-form expressions for the circulation and the position of the vortex. The good agreement with the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations suggests that, for the conditions examined, the vorticity production at the sharp edge and its subsequent three-dimensional transport are the main effects that shape the edge vortex.


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