Animal locomotion

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The physical principles of swimming and flying in animals differ significantly from those of ships and airplanes, placing the study of animal locomotion at the forefront of fluid dynamics and biomimetics. This field seeks to emulate the performance and function of living organisms. For instance, swimming fish have likely evolved efficient flow control mechanisms through natural selection, which could inform the design of robotic swimmers. However, there are contrasting views regarding the energetic efficiency of oscillatory propulsion in marine animals, necessitating careful evaluation of forces and energy at realistic Reynolds numbers. An experimental approach is often best for addressing these and other research questions, applicable to both flying and swimming animals. Researchers face similar challenges, such as studying tethered versus free locomotion and comparing flow around robotic models with that around real animals. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of experimental research on the physics of swimming and flying animals, highlighting key questions in both pure and applied research, as well as the experimental techniques available to explore them.