Biophysics of Insect Flight

This book basically involves the study of flight parameters, wing beat frequency, moment of inertia, and wing movements for developing various aerodynamic forces which have been calculated. The book is intended for biologists, physicists, nanotechnologists, and aerospace engineers. Resilin, an elastic polymer (4 ?) which is present at the base of insect, plays a major role in Neurogenic and Myogenic insect flyers and influences the physiology of flight muscles. Leading edge vortex (LEV) is a special feature of insect flight. Insect wings have stalling angle above 60 degrees as compared to a man-made aeroplane stalling angle which is 16 degree. Reynolds number, the knowledge of LEV, and detailed study of moment of inertia help in developing flapping flexible wings for micro-aerial-vehicles. This book serves as an interface between biologists and engineers interested to develop biomimicking micro-aerial-vehicles. The contents of this book is useful to researchers and professionals alike.

1. Introduction to Insect Flight.- 2. Flight a Retrospect a Brief Review.- 3. Aerodynamic Considerations.- 4. Flight Morphology and Flight Muscles.- 5. Types of Textures in Insect Wings and Classification.- 6. Theories on Hovering Flight of Insects-A Brief Review.- 7. Moment of Inertia and Mutilation Studies of Insect Wing.- 8. Chitinous Membranes and Analogous Materials.- 9. Aeroelasticity.- 10. Insect Migration.- 11. MAV Design Aspects and MEMS. 12. Bio-mimicking MAVs and Insect Flight.- 13. Navigation – A General Overview.- 14. WINGBEAT FREQUENCY THEORIES- A Mathematical Approach.- 15. Comments on Bio-physics of Insect Flight (Present and Future).- Bibliography.- Index.

Prof. N. Chary is Retired Professor, worked at various Institutions as Head, Dept. of Zoology, Dean, Faculty of Science, and Principal of University College of Science at Kakatiya University, Warangal, Bharat (INDIA). Further he was also Visiting professor at Gulbarga and Nanded Universities; Dean and Chief Administrator, Windsor University, School of Medicine, Grand Turk, West Indies; Visiting Professor, Department of Aeronautic Engineering, MRCET, Hyderabad; Emeritus Prof. Bio-Aerodynamics (R & D), SNIST (Autonomous), Hyderabad. He was also Technical Advisor, Bio-Mimicking Programs NDRF, Bangalore. He was IBRO UNESCO–WHO Scholar (1968-1971) and completed Ph.D. from Prague University, and M.Sc. from B.Sc. – Osmania University, Hyderabad. He is also Chief Author and Editor of Bio-Aerodynamics Avian Flight, published by NDRF.

Dr. Laxminarayana Parayitam is Professor and Director of Research and Training Unit for Navigational Electronics, Osmania University, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Bharat (INDIA). At present, his areas of research interest are Signal Processing, Communication, and Navigation for Development of Real-Time GNSS software Receivers, Autonomous Navigation for Indoor and Outdoor Environments, Bio-Mimicking Navigation, Speech technologies, and Instruments for Biotech Industries. He is passionate about industry-institute interaction and start-ups. His GNSS team of Ph.D. and Masters students have developed the Real-Time IRNSS/NavIC Software Receiver running on PC/Laptop with MATLAB andr C/C++ platform. Another team is also working for Hybrid navigation by integration of GNSS with other navigation systems. He has conducted almost 20 short term courses/workshops and schools in the area of GNSS for scientists, engineers, academicians, and students, as Coordinator cum Faculty Member. At present, he is also leading Two projects 1) Speech-To-Speech Interface for Man–machine Communication for Humanoid of Gaganyaan sponsored by ISRO  and 2) Real-TimeIRNSS software receiver running on PC are the present ongoing sponsored projects. Executed 14 sponsored and Six Consultancy projects from public and private organizations as Principal Investigator and Co- Investigator. Established and lead a 13-member team of “DSP and Audio Processing Technology” group at Hyderabad Development Centre (HDC) of Analog Devices Inc.(ADI) during 2003-2005. After returning from ADI to OU, ADI has funded to establish a Multimedia and ADSPs laboratory at Osmania University. Later, he was also Consultant to ADI and Lantiq Communications India Pvt. Ltd. Two groups of students/alumni members of OU are working in collaboration with him to develop new products with two start-ups in the areas in Speech Technologies and Instruments for Biotechnology industries.

Dr. Prasad Mukkavilli (Prasad M.V.S.S.S.M) is experienced Researcher with a combination of experience in industry and academia. His research interests include aerodynamic studies of fansand compressors and has published in national and international journals. Dr. Prasad retired as Additional General Manager, BHEL R&D with more than 27 years of experience in the field of turbomachines. Prior to that, he worked in Aero Engines and Helicopter Design Bureau with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore. Following his tenure at BHEL, Dr. Prasad served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Hyderabad from 2008 to 2017. He also served as Technical Consultant for Reitz India Pvt. Ltd, where he advised on the design of fans for cement industry. Dr. Prasad holds B.Tech., M.Tech., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.