Bumblebee flight inspires robot design

Scientists are studying the flight of the bumblebee in an effort to work out how the insects remain steady in adverse weather conditions.

Dr Sridhar Ravi from Harvard University used high-speed cameras to film the bumblebees as they flew in a wind tunnel.

This set-up enabled Dr Ravi and his team to control the airflow the bees had to contend with, and to find out how the bees coped with the changing conditions.

It revealed that the bumblebees would roll their bodies from side to side to correct their flight path.

The researchers say the study could aid the design of "micro air vehicles" that remain stable in bad weather.