On the Backward Flight of a Cicada: Kinematics and Aerodynamics.

Cicadas are more known for their interesting life cycles and sound production. However, their flight capabilities are underestimated. Cicadas may serve as models for Micro-Aerial Vehicle (MAV) design because of their ability to carry a large payload (in the form of body mass). Thus, their flight physics deserves attention. Currently, most insect flight studies focus on forward and turning flight. In this work, however, we focus on the backward flight of a cicada. Using a combination of high-speed photogrammetry and 3D surface reconstruction techniques, we extract details of both the wing and body motions. We compute the flight forces and flow features using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver. Furthermore, we examine the coordination of the wing and body kinematics in relation to force production to uncover the techniques of backward flight. Finally, we compare our findings with other flight maneuvers in the existing literature. Our results offer new insights into the physics of flight.