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Dryad

Data used for analyzing a turning-ascending flight of a H. pratti bat

Data files

Dec 06, 2021 version files 3.60 MB

Abstract

Bats exhibit a high degree of agility and provide an excellent model system for bioinspired flight. The current study investigates an ascending right turn of a H. pratti bat and elucidates on the kinematic features and aerodynamic mechanisms used to effectuate the maneuver. To initiate and sustain the turn, the bat utilizes roll and yaw rotations of the body to different extents synergistically to generate the centripetal force for a stable turn. The turning moments are generated by drawing the wing inside the turn closer to the body, by introducing phase lags in force generation between the wings and redirecting force production to the outer part of the wing outside of the turn. Deceleration in flight speed, an increase in flapping frequency, shortening of the upstroke, and thrust generation at the end of the upstroke was observed during the ascending maneuver. The bat consumes about 0.67 W power to execute the turning ascending maneuver which is approximately two times the power consumed by similar bats during level flight. Upon comparison with a similar maneuver by a H. armiger bat [P. Windes, D.K. Tafti, R. Müller, Kinematic and aerodynamic analysis of a bat performing a turning-ascending maneuver, Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 16 (2020). doi:10.1088/1748-3190/abb78d.], some commonalities as well as differences were observed in the detailed wing kinematics and aerodynamics.