Have you ever wondered how snakes can seemingly fly through the air, gliding effortlessly from tree to tree? A team of researchers from Virginia Tech and other universities has uncovered new insights into the fascinating aerodynamics of flying snakes.
Found in South and Southeast Asia, these Chrysopelea pelias snakes are able to launch themselves from treetops and glide distances of up to 24 meters. While in the air, they flatten their bodies and make a series of side-to-side undulations.
The research team, led by Jake Socha from Virginia Tech who has been studying these snakes for about 20 years, set out to determine why this unique movement is essential for their flight.
Undulations Create a Stabilizing Effect
Using motion capture and 3D modeling, the scientists created a detailed representation of the paradise tree snake’s body position during glides. They found that without undulation, the virtual snake began to tumble and fall.
However, when undulations were added to the simulated glides, the snake remained stable. This groundbreaking discovery confirms that the side-to-side movements enhance the snake’s rotational stability during flight.
The researchers also examined how the snake’s cross-sectional shape, which resembles an elongated frisbee, contributes to its gliding capabilities. As the snake undulates, it creates areas of high pressure beneath its body and low pressure above, generating lift. This pressure differential allows the snake to glide for extended distances.
Socha’s team conducted indoor experiments with seven paradise tree snakes, using high-speed motion capture to film them launching off an 8.3-meter-high platform. Analysis revealed that the snakes undulate their bodies in both horizontal and vertical waves while also bending to angle their heads up and down.
The 3D simulations showed that the amplitude of undulation was critical for mid-glide stability, while frequency played a less significant role.
Ancient Undulation Adapted for Flight
Many animals, from fish to snakes, use undulation for propulsion in various environments. However, the flying snake’s aerial undulation serves a different purpose.
“We know that snakes undulate for all kinds of reasons and in all kinds of locomotor contexts,” Socha explained. “That’s their basal program. By program, I mean their neural, muscular program — they’re receiving specific instructions: fire this muscle now, fire that muscle, fire this muscle. It’s ancient. It goes beyond snakes.”
While all snakes undulate to move forward on land, the flying snake has adapted this ancient, innate movement pattern for a new function: stability during gliding. This sets them apart from other gliding animals and hints at the complex evolution of their unique aerial abilities.
Insights for Robotic Design
The team’s findings not only shed light on the incredible adaptations of flying snakes but also have potential applications in robotics. Understanding how these limbless creatures can glide so effectively could lead to the development of more advanced, snake-inspired robots.
Such robots could be used in search and rescue operations or for exploring difficult-to-access areas.
Socha and his colleagues plan to continue their research on flying snakes, conducting outdoor experiments to gather data from longer glides. They hope to investigate factors like undulation frequency and angle of attack to gain further insights into the snakes’ aerodynamic performance.
Ultimately, this knowledge could be translated into algorithms for dynamic, flying snake-like robots.
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Sources:
- journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/217/3/382/12998/Aerodynamics-of-the-flying-snake-Chrysopelea
- pubs.aip.org/aip/pof/article-abstract/26/3/031901/258694/Lift-and-wakes-of-flying-snakes?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.