If you’ve ever encountered a centipede, you know they move pretty quickly. If you’ve ever been able to smash any of your centipede-related fears and wondered how they are capable of such dexterity, even over obstacles, researchers at Kyoto University are here to help.
The team used computer simulations and robotics to investigate.
What they discovered is that the mechanics of locomotion itself, in particular taming instability is key to the centipede’s success.
“During their locomotion, many legs are in contact with the ground to support the body against gravity and produce propulsive and decelerating forces,” said Shinya Aoi, lead scientist. “These many legs are physically constrained on the ground, and this constraint can impede their locomotion maneuverability.”
Centipedes overcome constraints by harnessing instability, producing their characteristic undulating movement.
“Our group developed a mathematical model of centipedes and found that the straight walk becomes unstable and body undulations appear through a supercritical Hopf bifurcation by changing the locomotion speed and body axis flexibility,” said Aoi.
To gain insight, the team employed a series of computer models and then segmented, multi-legged robots, to replicate the centipede’s movement, including the wave-like body motion.
Aoi and the team believe that the study provides clues to unresolved issues of intelligent motor functions of animals, and meaningful insight for biological sciences.
Since so much still remains unknown about the exact mechanics of animal locomotion, the team says that this knowledge could eventually lead to better motion for robots, regardless of how many legs they have.
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