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In this section:
SML:
See also:
My research interests cover the mechanics of both terrestrial and aerial locomotion. I am currently funded by The Wellcome Trust for a 4-year fellowship on 'The aerodynamics and energetics of bird flight studied with direct pressure measurements'. Pigeons will be used to investigate both why slow flight requires so much power (applicable to aeronautics), and how vertebrate muscles can produce such high power (informative for geriatrics and athletics). Later, flying geese will be studied to answer whether fast bird flight may be considered aerodynamically efficient – and so whether having flapping aeroplanes is a fundamentally good idea.
Phone: +44 (0) 1707 666 327
E-mail: jusherwood at rvc.ac.uk
Williams, S.B., Tan, H., Usherwood, J.R. and Wilson, A.M. (2009). Pitch then power: limitations to acceleration in quadrupeds. Biology Letters. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0360. View movie here with supplementary info here.
2006-2010: aerodynamics of pigeon and goose flight |
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2004-2006: mechanics of terrestrial locomotion, including bend running and quadrupedal walking |
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| 2009 | Williams, S.B., Tan, H., Usherwood, J.R. and Wilson, A.M. (2009). Pitch then power: limitations to acceleration in quadrupeds. Biology Letters. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0360 [pdf], [supplementary info] & [movie] |
| 2009 | Williams, S.B., Usherwood, J.R., Jespers, K., Channon, A.J. and Wilson, A.M. (2009). Exploring the mechanical basis for acceleration: pelvic limb locomotor function during accelerations in racing greyhounds (Canis familiaris). J. Exp. Biol. 212, 550-565. |
| 2009 | Usherwood, J. R. (2009). Inertia may limit efficiency of slow flapping flight, but mayflies show a strategy for reducing the power requirements of loiter. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics 4. doi: 10.1088/1748-3182/4/1/015003. |
| 2008 | Usherwood, J. R. (2008). The aerodynamic forces and pressure distribution of a revolving pigeon wing. Exp. Fluids. doi 10.1007/s00348-008-0596-z. Paper .pdf. High resolution Figures .pdf. |
| 2008 | Usherwood, J. R., Szymanek, K. L. and Daley, M. A. (2008). Compass gait mechanics account for top walking speeds in ducks and humans. J. Exp. Biol., 211, 3744-3749. Link. |
| 2008 | Usherwood, J. R. and Lehmann, F.-O. (2008). Phasing of dragonfly wings can improve aerodynamic efficiency by removing swirl. J. R. Soc. Interface, 5, 1303-1307. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2008.0124. [pdf] and see Press Release. |
| 2008 | Usherwood, J. R. (2008). Collared doves Streptopelia decaocto display with high, near-maximal muscle powers, but at low energetic cost. J. Avian Biol. 39, 19-23. doi: 10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.04347.x |
| 2007 | Hedrick, T. L., Usherwood, J. R. and Biewener, A. A. (2007). Low speed maneuvering flight of the rose-breasted cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapillus). II. Inertial and aerodynamic reorientation. J. Exp. Biol. 210,1912 -1925. JEB link. |
| 2007 | Usherwood, J.R., Williams, S.B. and Wilson, A.M. (2007). Mechanics of dog walking compared with a passive, stiff limbed, 4-bar linkage model, and their collisional implications.J. Exp. Biol. 210, 533-540. [pdf] |
| 2005 | Usherwood, J.R. and Wilson, A.M. (2005). No force limit on greyhound sprint speed. Nature 438:753-754. doi: 10.1038/438753a. [pdf] |
| 2005 | Usherwood, J.R. and Wilson, A.M. (2005). Accounting for elite indoor 200 m sprint results. Biology Letters doi:10.1098/rsbl.2005.0399 [pdf] |
| 2005 | Daley, M.A., Usherwood, J.R., Felix, G. and Biewener, A.A. (2005). Running over rough terrain: guinea fowl maintain dynamic stability despite a large unexpected change in substrate height. J. Exp. Biol. 209, 171-187. doi: 10.1242/jeb.01986 [pdf] |
| 2005 | McGowan, C.P., Baudinette, R.V., Usherwood, J.R. and Biewener, A.A. (2005). The mechanics of jumping versus steady hopping in yellow-footed rock wallabies. J. Exp. Biol. 208, 2741-2751. doi:10.1242/jeb.01702. [pdf] |
| 2005 | Usherwood, J.R. Why not walk faster? Biology Letters. doi:10.1098/rsbl.(2005).0312 [pdf] |
| 2005 | Usherwood , J.R., Hedrick, T.L., McGowan, C.P. and Biewener, A.A. (2005) Dynamic pressure maps for wings and tails of pigeons in slow, flapping flight, and their energetic implications. J. Exp. Biol. 208, 355-369. doi:10.1242/jeb.01359. [pdf] |
| 2004 | Hedrick, T.L., Usherwood, J.R. and Biewener, A.A. (2004). Instantaneous aerodynamic force production in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) flying across a range of speeds. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 1689-1702. [pdf] |
| 2003 | Usherwood, J.R., Hedrick, T.L. and Biewener, A.A. (2003). The aerodynamics of avian take-off from direct pressure measurements in Canada geese (Branta canadensis). J. Exp. Biol. 206, 4051-4056. [pdf] |
| 2003 | Usherwood, J.R. and Bertram, J.E.A. (2003). Gait transition cost in humans. Eur. J. App. Physiol. 90, 647-650. [pdf] |
| 2003 | Usherwood, J.R. (2003). More than a flitting tour of flapping flight. J. Exp. Biol. 206, 4-5. [pdf] |
| 2003 | Usherwood, J.R. and Bertram, J.E.A. (2003). Understanding brachiation: insight from a collisional perspective. J. Exp. Biol. 206, 1631-1642. [pdf] |
| 2003 | Usherwood, J.R., Larson, S.G. and Bertram, J.E.A. (2003). Mechanisms of force and power production in unsteady ricochetal brachiation. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 120, 364-372.[pdf] |
| 2002 | Usherwood, J.R. and Ellington, C.P. (2002). The aerodynamics of revolving wings. II. Propeller force coefficients from mayfly to quail. J. Exp. Biol. 205, 1565-1576.[pdf] |
| 2002 | Usherwood, J.R. and Ellington, C.P. (2002). The aerodynamics of revolving wings. I. Model hawkmoth wings. J. Exp. Biol. 205, 1547-1564.[pdf] |
| 2002 | Usherwood, J.R. (2002). Aerodynamics and energetics of animal flight based on propeller models. PhD thesis, Cambridge University. [pdf] |
| 2001 | Ellington, C.P. and Usherwood, J.R. (2001). Lift and drag characteristics of rotary and flapping wings. In: Fixed and flapping wing aerodynamics for micro air vehicle applications. Ed: Mueller, T.J. Progress in astronautics and aeronautics. 195 , 231-246. |
| 1997 | Usherwood, J.R., Ennos, A.R. and Ball, D.J. (1997). Mechanical and anatomical adaptations in terrestrial and aquatic buttercups to their respective environments. J. Exp. Bot. 48, 1469-1475. [pdf] |
| 1996 | Usherwood, J.R. (1996). Studies in biomechanics and rejuvenation . MRes thesis, Manchester University. |
Due to copyright law access to some of these articles are currently restricted; please contact the author for further details.
Unpublished Methods
Usherwood, J.R., Daley, M.A. and McGowan, C.P. Force platforms as unsteady ergometers. [pdf]
To refer to methods described in this paper, cite either McGowan et al. (2005) or Daley et al. (2005) (above).
Structure and Motion Lab These pages maintained by the SML Contact: Alan Wilson
