Arion Pons is building digital twins of insects to study their extraordinary flying abilities. Just like when Leonardo da Vinci imagined a helicopter with flapping wings, the idea of letting flight technology be inspired by nature is once again in focus. But why did early aviation engineers abandon flapping wings – and how might the concept be revived for the future? Find out in Verapodden.
Arion’s research focuses on the intersection between uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), biomechanics, and fluid-structure interaction. Research topics include the biomechanics of flying insects; the development of biomimetic flapping-wing UAVs; and the design of novel UAV airframes and equipment. The pod episode starts in Swedish, but the whole interview with Arion is in English.
Arion Pons is an Assistant Professor at the Division of Fluid Dynamics, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. Originally from New Zealand, he trained as an engineer, completed a PhD in bioengineering in the UK, and has conducted research in Israel.
Today, he brings together engineering, biology, and advanced simulation to investigate one of the most complex forms of motion in the natural world: insect flight.
About Verapodden
You can listen to the podcast in the following channels:
Project leaders: Cecilia Hillman & Maria Saline, Genie
Original music by Stefan Karlsson
Programme manager, technology & editing: Malin Avenius
Producer: Anne-Christine Nordin
Art Director: Carina Schultz
Vera Sandberg became Sweden's first female engineer in 1917. She studied as the only woman among 500 men. Today, Chalmers University of Technology has 10,500 students and one third are women.
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Arion Pons
- Assistant Professor, Fluid Dynamics, Mechanical Engineering
Arion Pons
- Assistant Professor, Fluid Dynamics, Mechanical Engineering
