Animal Phsiology
Charlie Ellington
Emeritus Professor of Animal Mechanics
Email: c.ellington@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0)1223 336668
My general interests are in the fields of biomechanics and comparative physiology, with a particular fascination for animal flight. Our research group studies everything from reconstructions of the extinct pterosaurs, which are then tested in windtunnels to predict their gliding performance; the flight of very large fruit bats from a captive zoo colony; the mechanics and aerodynamics of flapping insect flight using high-tech robotics, particle image velocimetry (PIV) and force measurement techniques; and the application of our knowledge tot the design of flapping-wing micro air vehicles (MAVs). Anything that flies is fair game to us.
Selected publications
- Wilkinson, MT, Unwin, DM, Ellington, C.P. (2006). High lift function of the pteroid bone and forewing of pterosaurs. Proceedings Royal Society London B 273: 119-126.
- Tytell, E.D., Ellington, C.P. (2003). How to perform measurements in a hovering animal's wake: physical modelling of the vortex wake of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London B 358: 1559-1566.
- Usherwood, JR, Ellington, C.P. (2002). The aerodynamics of revolving wings. I. Model hawkmoth wings. Journal of Experimental Biology 205 : 1547–1564.
- Askew, G.N., Marsh, R.L., Ellington, C.P. (2001). The mechanical power output of the flight muscles of blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chenensis) during take-off. Journal of Experimental Biology 204: 3601-3619.
- Hedenström, A., Ellington, C.P., Wolf, T.J. (2001). Wing wear, aerodynamics and flight energetics in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): an experimental study. Functional Ecology 15: 417-422.
- Ellington, C.P. (1999). The novel aerodynamics of insect flight: applications to micro-air vehicles. Journal of Experimental Biology 202: 3439-3448.
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