Lars Johansson

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Lars Johansson is a leading figure in the biomechanics of animal flight, with a particular focus on the unsteady aerodynamics that enable bats and birds to achieve extraordinary maneuverability and efficiency. His research centers on the role of leading edge vortices (LEVs) in lift generation, a critical mechanism for slow and hovering flight. Johansson’s major contributions include demonstrating that lesser long-nosed bats utilize LEVs at slow speeds but suppress them during fast flight, a finding that reshaped our understanding of adaptive aerodynamic control. His work with a bat-inspired robotic flapper further revealed that stroke plane angle is a key parameter for modulating LEV behavior, providing a direct link between kinematics and force production. With over 70 citations across his most influential papers, his impact is substantial. Notably, his 2024 study on aerodynamic efficiency in birds offers a novel framework for explaining how different flapping strategies optimize thrust and drag trade-offs across flight speeds. Johansson’s research not only advances fundamental biology but also informs the design of bio-inspired micro air vehicles.