昆虫の筋骨格系を規範とした柔軟・冗長な羽ばたき機構の創製

抄録

Flying insects perform remarkable flapping flights of hovering and rapid maneuvers under complex natural environments. The flapping flight of insects is achieved through a complex musculoskeletal system to transmit the thorax vibration/deformation to the wing hinge, which is considered as the most complicated dynamic system in biological systems but remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to uncover the underlying mechanisms associated with the musculoskeletal system of insects by developing an insect-inspired artificial system. We built up a prototype flexible and redundant flapping mechanism composed of an electromagnetic actuator capable of generating sustained or instantaneous force over a broad range of magnitude with various signal duty ratios or input voltages. The actuator was verified to be capable of altering the wing-beat trajectory owing to deforming a wing root structure. Our experimental model may provide new insights into the insect flight mechanisms.