How Whales Fly?

Post by Doaa Tawfik

What do you think is the direct connection between a whale and a helicopter!?!

It really is amazing how an apple gave Newton the signal to discover the gravitational laws in all its complexity, and how peas cleared up the complicated rules of genetics to Mendel. For decades, scientists thoroughly observed plant growth and the movement of animals, fishes and birds to imitate their movements and upgrade various inventions and innovations. We have been learning from Mother Nature for decades and there is still so much more to learn!!!

Yes, life - with its millions of years' worth of evolution - does actually have answers to most -if not all - problems and dilemmas that we face. The question is how can we successfully find and apply these answers?

I can easily understand how scientists can study birds to upgrade the flying mechanisms or study fish to upgrade sailing mechanisms or to upgrade submarines; however, it puzzles me how scientists could learn how to upgrade helicopters from whales?

So, how did the whales provide scientists with new ideas to upgrade helicopters?!!!

Despite the fact that the idea seems somehow strange, simply because whales do not fly, it is true!

Prof. Frank E Fish, a professor of biology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, discovered that the tubercles on the leading edge of the fins of a specific species of whales named "Humpback Whales" (see the picture) help them float and increase their agility. The humpback whales are known for their acrobatic moves and high speed, despite the fact that they are among the largest creatures on earth. Since the floating mechanisms under water are somehow similar to that in air, Dr Fish (ironically) thought of applying this tubercle to the rotor blades of wind turbines. And... (drumroll)... it worked !!!

Yes, not only did the wind turbines became faster, but they also became quieter. The irregularities along the leading edge prevent the air from flowing over the blade and escaping at its end. This discovery was made back in 2008, and it is now known as "Whalepower turbines". Next thing you know, whalepower was being used in underwater turbines. This year in Göttingen Germany another group of scientists in German Aerospace Center DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) used this same idea to improve helicopters.

As helicopters fly vertically, the backward-moving rotor blades exert a negative effect on buoyance, maneuverability and forward movement, especially at high altitudes. These rotor blades also create turbulence that can force a helicopter into a rotation swirl if not correctly handled. The group of scientists from Germany glued small bumps on the leading edge of the helicopters' blades and then tested the blades in wind tunnels. The pilots confirmed a change in the attitude and maneuverability of the helicopter. The team is now testing the safety and the number, size and distance of these bumps so that the technology can be applied to all helicopters. Interestingly, all helicopters can be instantly upgraded just by gluing these bumps to the leading edge of the rotor blade!!!

Now to the real problem!!!

How would you expect to learn from a swimming mammal how to fly?!!!

I guess Newton had his scientific and research antenna correctly tuned when the apple fell down on him, Mendel as he cultivated peas, and Prof. Frank E Fish as he observed whales' swimming dynamics. Life is always giving us lessons, however these lessons need to be understood and correctly perceived. So the perceiver must be in a receptive mood, totally awake and correctly tuned to understand this lesson from Mother Nature - and know where and how exactly to use it.

WELL!

Mother Nature....Thank you...Again!!

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Image Credit: by Achim Raschka (originally came from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) via Wikimedia Commons