DNAS Friday Seminar Series

Understanding Bird Flight from an Aircraft Perspective: Mechanics and Strategies

Date & Time

Date: Friday, Apr 10, 2026

Time: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Venue: IB 3106 & zoom: 789 843 9496

Speaker

Prof. Xiang Yang

Associate Professor, Shanghai JiaoTong University

Abstract

This seminar analyzes avian flight through the framework of aeronautical engineering. It first examines the fundamental elements of flight—including the generation of lift, drag, and thrust—while comparing various avian flight modes such as flapping, gliding, and bounding. The focus then shifts to the mechanics of soaring flight, which includes static soaring in vertical updrafts and dynamic soaring in horizontal wind shear. Specifically, the presentation explores strategies for energy harvesting and directional flight during dynamic soaring, alongside recent research utilizing reinforcement learning. Finally, the seminar addresses some aerodynamic adaptations, discussing how avian wings provide passive stability in atmospheric turbulence, and investigating how birds exploit unsteady aerodynamic effects to generate sufficient force for a stationary takeoff.

Bio、
Dr. Xiang Yang is a Tenure-Track Associate Professor at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). He received his Ph.D. from SJTU in 2018.His research primarily focuses on unsteady aerodynamics, vorticity dynamics and flow control, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence in aircraft design and drag reduction technologies for civil aviation. Dr. Xiang has led multiple prestigious projects, including several General Programs and sub-projects of the NSFC, and serves as the principal investigator for the Aircraft Drag Reduction Program, a collaborative initiative with COMAC.He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physics of Fluids, AIAA Journal, and the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics.