Flexible wing hinge enables robustness of aerodynamics, stability and stabilization in insect flight

Insect flight is both diverse and robust, relying on the integration of multiple flexible structures, including wings, exoskeletal elements, wing hinges, musculoskeletal components, and sensory systems. Simulation-based biomechanics in insect-inspired flight systems provides a powerful tool for unraveling passive and active mechanism (PAM) strategies—that is, how these flexible structures interact to achieve efficient and robust flapping-wing dynamics, aerodynamics, and flight control. In this seminar, I begin with a brief introduction to a triune platform of insect-inspired flight systems that we have developed to integrate state-of-the-art technologies in experiments, computational fluid dynamics, and bio-inspired flying robotics, with particular emphasis on a bio-inspired flight dynamics simulator. I then focus on two topics: (1) how passive–active mechanisms (PAM) enhance aerodynamic robustness and flight stability, illustrated by the aerodynamics and stability of hawkmoth forward flight with a flexible wing hinge (Xue, Cai, and Liu, 2024); and (2) how PAM contributes to stabilization robustness, demonstrated by the role of passive pitch rotation in enabling optimal vibrational stabilization during hawkmoth forward flight (Xue, Cai, and Liu, 2026). Finally, I conclude with an outlook on future challenges and research directions.