Real-time Wing Deformation Simulations for Flying Insects

Qiang Chen, Zhigang Deng, Feng Li, Yuming Fang, Tingsong Lu, Yang Tong, Yifan Zuo

Realistic simulation of the intricate wing deformations seen in flying insects not only deepens our comprehension of insect flight mechanics but also opens up numerous applications in fields such as computer animation and virtual reality. Despite its importance, this research area has been relatively underexplored due to the complex and diverse wing structures and the intricate patterns of deformation. This paper presents an efficient skeleton-driven model specifically designed to real-time simulate realistic wing deformations across a wide range of flying insects. Our approach begins with the construction of a virtual skeleton that accurately reflects the distinct morphological characteristics of individual insect species. This skeleton serves as the foundation for the simulation of the intricate deformation wave propagation often observed in wing deformations. To faithfully reproduce the bending effect seen in these deformations, we introduce both internal and external forces that act on the wing joints, drawing on periodic wing-beat motion and a simplified aerodynamics model. Additionally, we utilize mass-spring algorithms to simulate the inherent elasticity of the wings, helping to prevent excessive twisting. Through various simulation experiments, comparisons, and user studies, we demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness, and adaptability of our model.

Real-time Wing Deformation Simulations for Flying Insects