Power and efficiency of insect flight muscle
C. P. Ellington
AI summary
65% confidenceInsect flight muscle efficiency is low, around 10%, and power output is sufficient for aerodynamics but not for wing oscillation without elastic storage.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT The efficiency and mechanical power output of insect flight muscle have been estimated from a study of hovering flight. The maximum power output, calculated from the muscle properties, is adequate for the aerodynamic power requirements. However, the power output is insufficient to oscillate the wing mass as well unless there is good elastic storage of the inertial energy, and this is consistent with reports of elastic components in the flight system. A comparison of the mechanical power output with the metabolic power input to the flight muscles suggests that the muscle efficiency is quite low : less than 10%.
Key findings
- Maximum power output of insect flight muscle is adequate for aerodynamic power requirements.
- Power output is insufficient to oscillate wing mass without elastic storage.
- Muscle efficiency is estimated to be less than 10%.
Keywords
Identifiers
- Journal
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Year
- 1985