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[2602.19196] An Interpretable Data-Driven Model of the Flight Dynamics of Hawks
Summary
This paper presents a data-driven model using dynamic mode decomposition to analyze the flight dynamics of hawks, revealing common behavioral states and efficient locomotion mechanisms.
Why It Matters
Understanding hawk flight dynamics can enhance our knowledge of avian locomotion and inform the development of bio-inspired robotics and flight models. The use of data-driven methods like dynamic mode decomposition offers a more accurate representation of flight compared to traditional physics-based models.
Key Takeaways
- Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) effectively models hawk flight dynamics.
- Hawks exhibit common dynamic modes despite individual flight styles.
- The DMD model requires only a few parameters for accurate flight characterization.
- This approach challenges traditional physics-based models by providing data-driven insights.
- Understanding flight dynamics can inspire advancements in robotics and aerodynamics.
Quantitative Biology > Quantitative Methods arXiv:2602.19196 (q-bio) [Submitted on 22 Feb 2026] Title:An Interpretable Data-Driven Model of the Flight Dynamics of Hawks Authors:Lydia France, Karl Lapo, J. Nathan Kutz View a PDF of the paper titled An Interpretable Data-Driven Model of the Flight Dynamics of Hawks, by Lydia France and Karl Lapo and J. Nathan Kutz View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Despite significant analysis of bird flight, generative physics models for flight dynamics do not currently exist. Yet the underlying mechanisms responsible for various flight manoeuvres are important for understanding how agile flight can be accomplished. Even in a simple flight, multiple objectives are at play, complicating analysis of the overall flight mechanism. Using the data-driven method of dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) on motion capture recordings of hawks, we show that multiple behavioral states such as flapping, turning, landing, and gliding, can be modeled by simple and interpretable modal structures (i.e. the underlying wing-tail shape) which can be linearly combined to reproduce the experimental flight observations. Moreover, the DMD model can be used to extrapolate naturalistic flapping. Flight is highly individual, with differences in style across the hawks, but we find they share a common set of dynamic modes. The DMD model is a direct fit to data, unlike traditional models constructed from physics principles which can rarely be tested on real data and whose...
