The bumblebee story

[Don.Colless at CSIRO.AU]

Dave mentioned the deer-bot fly story. The remarkable thing about that was that its author based his estimate on the fact that he couldn't actually see the flies. He just KNEW they were going by. Or, to be more precise, he thought he could see them from behind, as one can see an artillery shell.

But let's not be too hard on our eccentrics. They do provide entertainment. 

Don Colless


-----Original Message-----
From:   Taxacom Discussion List on behalf of Dave Chesmore
Sent:   Fri 5/20/2005 9:31 PM
To:     TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Cc:	
Subject:             Re: The bumblebee story
Hi

It is obviously plain nonsense, like the story of the Deer Bot fly which was
supposed to be able to fly at 700mph.

I believe the moral of the story is that the mathematical models used are
inadequate, especially any non-linearities present as they are difficult to
quantify.  I also believe the people to did the work said this in their
paper and were using the case as an example of just how much we don't
understand about insect flight.

Computer models are only as good at the mathematical underpinning - this is
true for all models including climate change.  Non-linearities cannot
generally be modelled and biology is full of non-linearities.

I found this relevant link which is interesting
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040911/mathtrek.asp


Dave

Dr David Chesmore, CEnv, FIAgrE, FRES
Intelligent Systems Engineering Group
Department of Electronics
University of York
Heslington
York, YO10 5DD
Tel:  01904 432394
Fax: 01904 432335