Want Better Aircraft? Ask A Bat About The Sensory Receptors In Their Wings

Bats are masters of flight, even at night. The best pilots in World War II would have to be envious of their steep nosedives and sharp turns. But when we think about bats and flying, most people think of echolocation and their built-in radar. But that doesn't help while banking hard left. Instead, it is the sensation of touch - bats have a unique array of sensory receptors in their wings and provide feedback to during flight. A new study in Cell Reports suggests neurons in the bat brain respond to incoming airflow over the wings, noted by touch signals, and they make rapid adjustments to wing position to optimize flight control.  read more

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