Butterflies sometimes appear to zigzag and drift when they hover. Their bodies may look jerky from a distance, yet these movements help them stay aloft in ways few people expect. Yanlai Zhang from Beihang University recently contributed to a study that examines how body angle allows butterflies to maintain stable flight in place.
The research explores a unique aspect of hovering that might spur fresh approaches for small aerial robots. Butterfly flight usually looks chaotic. Many experts note that quick shifts and uneven wing beats are actually precise motions that allow them to avoid predators.
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