Bridging Animal Flight Biomechanics, Neural Control, and Bio-Inspired Systems: From Natural Mechanisms to Engineered Innovations

Animal flight biomechanics represents a cornerstone of biological motion research, integrating principles of physiology, aerodynamics, sensory processing, and evolutionary morphology. Flying animals—from insects to birds—exhibit extraordinary control and energy efficiency through adaptive wing kinematics, compliant structural design, dynamic musculoskeletal coupling, and rapid sensorimotor feedback. Recent advances in high-speed imaging, computational fluid dynamics, neurophysiology, and neuromuscular modeling have greatly enhanced our understanding of these complex systems.However, despite substantial progress, crucial questions remain regarding the multiscale integration of physiological mechanisms, fluid–structure interactions, visual and mechanosensory information, and adaptive neuromechanical regulation that underpin versatile and stable flight. Furthermore, translating this biological intelligence into engineered systems continues to challenge scientists seeking to reproduce nature’s efficiency at micro and macro scales.This Research Topic aims to explore the physiological, sensory, neural, and biomechanical foundations of animal flight and their translation into bio-inspired systems and robotic platforms. It seeks to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration between biologists, neuroscientists, engineers, and roboticists by bridging the gap from organism-level biomechanics and sensorimotor control to intelligent system design.We invite contributions examining how animals integrate visual and mechanosensory information, modulate muscle activation, control wing deformation, and interact with surrounding flow fields. We also welcome studies investigating how these biological principles can inform the design of flapping-wing robots, aerial–aquatic drones, adaptive morphing wings, multimodal sensing systems, and autonomous control architectures. Particular emphasis will be placed on multisensory integration and the dynamic coupling of wings, halteres, sensory processing, muscles, and neural control systems.We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Neuromechanical control and muscle coordination during natural flight• Visual and mechanosensory feedback, sensorimotor transformations, and multimodal sensory integration during flight• Dynamic coupling of wings, halteres, sensory processing, muscles, and neural control systems• Fluid–structure interaction and low Reynolds number aerodynamics in flapping systems• Evolutionary and comparative morphology of insect and avian wings• Measurement and modeling of flight kinematics and energetics• Translational engineering of flapping-wing micro-robots, aerial–aquatic drones, and morphing-wing vehicles• Bio-inspired control algorithms for stability, maneuverability, and cooperative flight• Multimodal integration between biological sensing and robotic perception• Adaptive materials and compliant mechanisms inspired by biological wing structuresDr. Jan Bartussek is a Co-founder of DeepMed Zurich AG. This commercial affiliation is unrelated to the research scope of this Research Topic. Topic editors: Huan Shen, Jiajun Xu, Jan Bartussek Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81326/bridging-animal-flight-biomechanics-neural-control-and-bio-inspired-systems-from-natural-mechanisms-to-engineered-innovations