Why Do Helicopters Look Like Dragonflies?

Dragonflies, known for their freedom to rotate their wings and their ability to change aerodynamic forces, are often compared to helicopters due to their ability to fly backward and even hover in the air. However, modern technology and advancements in materials, engines, and machines make dragonfly-like helicopters, or “ornithopters”, more feasible and useful.

Dragonflies do not have tail rotors or spin their wings in circles, but many illustrations of them from the Dune universe are. A team of engineers in Russia has created a dragonfly-like ornithopter called Serenity, inspired by dragonflies. Skeeter, a miniature drone, mimics the flight of a dragonfly with four independently flapping wings and a camera. It can fly in urban canyons, explore disaster areas, and deliver services.

Dragonflies are described as resembling large dragonflies because of their design and function. They can change direction rapidly and capture prey as tiny as gnats. Scientists were impressed with the insects’ abilities and modeled the design of propellers, wind turbines, and even helicopters after dragonfly wings. The body of a dragonfly looks like a helical structure wrapped with metal, with two wings cross-placed on a body that displays a color gradation from ice blue to ice blue.

Sikorsky helicopters were designed in imitation of the flawless design and maneuverability of a dragonfly. The author did not intentionally make the helicopter look like a dragonfly, but rather to create a model that could be used in small-scale applications.

In conclusion, dragonflies are an inspiration for the design of helicopters, as they can fly straight up, down, hover like helicopters, and disappear in a blur. Engineers are looking to the dragonfly for inspiration in small-scale applications, as they have developed the ability to fly backward and hover in the air.

Are Ornithopters Based On Dragonflies?

The ornithopters featured in Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of "Dune" are intricately inspired by dragonflies, diverging from the traditional bird-based designs typical of real-life aircraft. While fixed-wing aircraft generally draw design elements from birds' gliding capabilities, the Dune ornithopters merge dragonfly-like aesthetics with functional prowess. Dragonflies are renowned for their efficiency, versatility, and high-performance flight, capable of maneuvering in any direction with speeds reaching up to 56 km/h. These insects possess pterostigmas that regulate wing flutter, enhancing their agility and speed.

In "Dune," both Frank Herbert's original novel and the recent film, ornithopters play a pivotal role, especially in escape scenes where their dragonfly-inspired design contributes to their operational realism. The production team disclosed that the ornithopters were not merely visual effects; they were designed to be operable, adhering to the physics of flapping-wing flight similar to that of birds and insects. Director Villeneuve emphasized making the military ornithopters appear "muscular," resulting in a hybrid look between helicopter gunships and large insects.

While Herbert's 1965 novel envisioned ornithopters as theoretical flying machines akin to flying cars, modern technology is bringing these designs closer to reality. Visual effects artists meticulously captured the aerodynamic properties of real dragonflies to create lifelike ornithopters for the 2021 film. Although the book's ornithopters are primarily bird-like, the film adaptation opts for dragonfly inspiration, highlighting the efficiency and adaptability of dragonfly flight mechanics in a futuristic setting. Current projects continue to explore mechanical models that emulate dragonfly flight, demonstrating the ongoing influence of nature on aircraft design.

Why Do Dragonfly-Like Vehicles Look So Real?

The lifelike appearance of dragonfly-like vehicles, especially in Denis Villeneuve's "Dune," is attributed to the motion blur effect applied to their wings, which mimic the rapid flapping of actual dragonflies. These flapping wing flying machines, known as ornithopters, operate on the same physics as birds and insects, making their functionality theoretically sound. In "Dune," the ornithopters are not only central to key escape scenes but also visually captivating, blending elements of helicopter gunships with insect-like designs, enhancing the film’s immersive feeling of the desert planet Arrakis.

The production designer confirmed that these dragonfly-shaped aircraft were functional, and their design reflects the agility of real dragonflies, which are known for their complex flight capabilities, including hovering and rapid directional changes. Interestingly, dragonflies are often attracted to cars, mistaking them for water sources, which adds an eerie parallel to their behavior.

Moreover, advanced engineering efforts have been made to create actual dragonfly-inspired ornithopters, like the "Serenity," another example of technological homage to nature’s efficiency in flight. Although the ornithopters in "Dune" may appear aggressive and believable as flying machines, they differ from traditional fixed-wing aircraft, as their tails facilitate different aerodynamic properties. Overall, the film's visionary design and the integration of biomimetic principles exemplify the continuing fascination with the flight dynamics of dragonflies.

Should We Have Aircraft Vs Dragonflies?

Given our advancement in materials, engines, and machinery, utilizing dragonfly-like designs for human flight vehicles is not particularly practical, as helicopters serve this purpose more effectively. While dragonflies possess exceptional flying abilities due to their unique wing structures and power-to-weight ratios, manmade ornithopters cannot match helicopters or tilt-wing aircraft in efficiency. Dragonfly wings operate via two independent pairs of muscles, enabling them to flap at high frequencies and use "Optical Flow Field" for enhanced maneuverability.

The dragonfly-inspired ornithopters in Denis Villeneuve’s film "Dune" illustrate a sci-fi application of such designs, emphasizing their potential for functional use in storytelling. Researchers at the Weitzman School of Design have noted that dragonfly wing mechanics could inform engineering innovations for lighter and stronger aircraft. Furthermore, Airbus's DragonFly initiative is testing technologies aimed at improving aircraft safety both in the air and on the ground.

Dragonflies’ exceptional flight mechanics can inspire advancements in small plane stability and robustness. In contrast to conventional aircraft, which prioritize efficiency through streamlined travel, dragonflies offer agility, able to hover like helicopters while also demonstrating jet-like speed. This makes them unique in the insect kingdom, exhibiting unparalleled mobility. In summary, while dragonflies excel at flight, translating their mechanics into practical, human-controlled flying machines presents challenges that current technology and designs, like helicopters, can better address. Nonetheless, the study of dragonfly flight continues to hold promise for future aerodynamic innovations.

How Do Dragonflies See?

Dragonflies possess remarkably large compound eyes, which create an almost panoramic field of vision, allowing them to perceive their surroundings in sophisticated ways. Each eye contains up to 30, 000 facets, covering much of their heads and resembling a motorcycle helmet. Their vision is capable of detecting fast-moving objects, with an impressive speed of seeing around 200 images per second, akin to slow motion for humans. The eyes are divided into two regions: a dorsal region that captures direct sunlight and a ventral region that detects light reflected from objects.

Notably, dragonflies demonstrate superior color vision, surpassing that of any other known animal, seeing a range from orange to ultraviolet. They possess both binocular vision for distance judgment and a unique capability to recognize polarized light, enhancing their hunting and navigation skills. Dragonflies can almost see in 360 degrees, having only one blind spot directly behind them. Their eyes consist of individual light sensors called ommatidia, each containing a lens and light-sensitive cells.

In addition, they are lined with photoreceptors, which convert light into electrical signals to process images. Altogether, nearly 80% of a dragonfly's brain is dedicated to visual processing, underscoring the importance of their extraordinary sight for survival. The complexity of dragonfly vision continues to intrigue scientists, highlighting the marvel of natural engineering in these insects.

Why Do Dragonflies Lose A Wing?

Helicopters face significant limitations, particularly in their energy consumption and endurance when lifting heavy loads due to fast rotor rotation. In contrast, dragonflies exhibit remarkable adaptability with their ability to flap, twist, and curve their four wings independently. However, a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that as global temperatures rise, male dragonflies are losing the distinct black patterns on their wings, a critical feature for attracting mates. This loss of pigmentation may be an adaptation to climate change, with some males turning pale. Dragonflies' hunting efficiency relies on their speed, precision, and large eyes, aided by their resilient, maneuverable wings and spiky legs. While initially able to cope with minor wing damage, losing a wing entirely renders them unable to maintain balance or hunt effectively. Larger dragonflies can still fly with slight wing damage if it occurs in less critical areas, such as during a close encounter with predators. However, the warming climate affects their physical features, leading to fading wing patterns crucial for mating. The intricate colors in their wings are tied to chitin crystals, and increased body temperatures can damage wing tissues and hinder territorial behaviors, potentially leading to death from overheating. As dragonflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, transitioning directly from egg to nymph to adult, their survival and adaptation in the face of climate change remain essential for their continued existence in changing ecosystems.