D6 Grip and Landing Dynamometry

Title

D6 describes instrumentation of the perch or landing substrate with force sensors to measure the dynamics of bird-surface contact. This method gives experimental access to E16the most difficult module to observe in free flightand allows directly diagnosing the status of the digital flexor tendon (A5) and the risk of collision damage (A9). A grip dynamometer measures F_grip as a quick indicator of neuromuscular condition; A force platform under the hanger records the complete landing curve F(t), from which the total impulse J, the peak force F_peak and the contact time t are extracted. The damping factor _leg, obtained by fitting F(t) to a damped oscillator model, is an integrated functional indicator of the wing-tendon-joint system: low values of indicate excessive stiffness due to tendon damage or loss of neuromuscular control.

ID:4226