Christina Harvey
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Davis
Seminar Information
Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) struggle to maneuver in cluttered or unpredictable environments. In contrast, birds regularly accomplish an impressive array of in-flight transitions, from maneuvering through cities, evading predators or gliding in gusty conditions. Birds rapidly adapt and maneuver in these variable flight conditions by actively or passively adjusting their wing or tail shape in flight, known as morphing. In this talk, I will discuss how avian morphing enhances flight maneuverability and adaptability. Furthermore, I will highlight how a bio-informed approach, with a focus on extracting fundamental biological principles, can improve our ability to design aircraft with expanded operational capabilities.
Dr. Christina Harvey is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Davis, where she leads the Biologically Informed Research and Design (BIRD) lab. Her group studies how, when, and why flying animals adjust to their environment with the goal of improving the maneuverability and adaptability of future uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as advancing our fundamental understanding of biological flight. She is a 2023 Packard Fellow and 2021 Amelia Earhart Fellow. She holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, a M.Sc. in Zoology from the University of British Columbia and a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University.