Comparative Experimental Studies in Avian Flight: Mechanical Power Output, Neuromuscular Control, 3-D Flight Kinematics, and Field Flight Behavior

飞行是最常见的动物运动形式，鸟类代表了自然界最好的运动实验之一。最近的研究为复杂的生物力学、神经肌肉控制以及与空中运动相关的一系列行为提供了新的见解。为了更清楚地解释不同飞行模式下与鸟类翅膀和尾巴运动相关的内部和外部机制，Dial博士将采用几种最新开发的技术（例如，声学测量，微型肌腱力扣记录，3d红外，高速视频运动分析）以及成熟的方法(例如，肌电图，应变计植入，高速16毫米摄影)，鸟类在可变速度风洞和飞行障碍中飞行。一些独立的项目正在计划中。1)为了确定主要运动肌肉（胸肌）产生的力是如何随体型变化的，我们将四种鸟类（家雀、黑嘴喜鹊、普通乌鸦和加拿大鹅）植入应变计，并记录它们在不同飞行模式下的应变计，这些鸟类的体型范围很广（25克至4000克）。来自这两个物种的数据将与体内声学测量记录相结合，以获得更可靠的胸肌长度在每次拍击周期中的变化，从而允许更准确地估计翅膀产生的机械功。2)腱力扣和肌电图分析将更准确地评估乌鸦翅膀内关键飞行肌肉的力产生和活动模式。3)对鸽子翅膀骨骼元件和飞行羽毛的应变记录将大大提高对翅膀运动学的认识，并测量施加在飞行装置上的气动力。4)红外线高速运动分析将产生鸽子在机动（不对称）飞行和喜鹊在风洞（对称）飞行中在大范围速度下的翅膀和尾巴的第一个三维记录。＊＊＊

9507503 Dial Flight is the most common form of animal locomotion and birds represent one of nature's finest locomotor experiments. Recent studies are providing new insights into the intricacies of the biomechanics, neuromuscular control, and the range of behaviors associated with aerial locomotion. To interpret more clearly internal and external mechanisms associated with avian wing and tail movements during different modes of flight, Dr. Dial will employ several recently developed techniques (e.g., sonomicrometry, miniature tendon force-buckle recording, and 3-D infra-red, high-speed video motion analysis) along with well-established methods (e.g., electromyography, strain gauge implantation, high-speed 16mm cinematography) as birds fly within a variable-speed wind tunnel and flight obstacle course. A number of separate projects are planned. 1) To determine how force production from the principal locomotor muscle (m. pectoralis) scales with body size, four species of birds (House sparrows, Black-billed magpies, Common ravens, and Canada geese), spanning a wide range of body sizes (25g to 4000g), will be implanted with strain gauges and recorded during different modes of flight. Data from the two species will be augmented with in vivo sonomicrometric recordings to obtain more reliable measurements of pectoralis length changes during each wingbeat cycle, thus permitting more accurate estimates of mechanical work generated by the wings. 2) Tendon force buckle and electromyographic analyses will more accurately evaluate force production and activity patterns of key flight muscles within the wings of crows. 3) Strain records from wing skeletal elements and flight feathers of pigeons will significantly improve the understanding of wing kinematics as well as measure aerodynamic forces imposed on the flight apparatus. 4) Infra-red, high-speed motion analyses will produce the first 3-dimensional records of wings and tails of pigeons during maneuvering (asymmetrical) flight and of magpies d uring wind tunnel (symmetrical) flight over a wide range of speeds. ***