scholarly journals Mitigating memory effects during undulatory locomotion on hysteretic materials

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perrin E Schiebel ◽  
Henry C Astley ◽  
Jennifer M Rieser ◽  
Shashank Agarwal ◽  
Christian Hubicki ◽  
...  

While terrestrial locomotors often contend with permanently deformable substrates like sand, soil, and mud, principles of motion on such materials are lacking. We study the desert-specialist shovel-nosed snake traversing a model sand and find body inertia is negligible despite rapid transit and speed dependent granular reaction forces. New surface resistive force theory (RFT) calculation reveals how wave shape in these snakes minimizes material memory effects and optimizes escape performance given physiological power limitations. RFT explains the morphology and waveform-dependent performance of a diversity of non-sand-specialist snakes but overestimates the capability of those snakes which suffer high lateral slipping of the body. Robophysical experiments recapitulate aspects of these failure-prone snakes and elucidate how re-encountering previously deformed material hinders performance. This study reveals how memory effects stymied the locomotion of a diversity of snakes in our previous studies (Marvi et al., 2014) and indicates avenues to improve all-terrain robots.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perrin E. Schiebel ◽  
Henry C. Astley ◽  
Jennifer M. Rieser ◽  
Shashank Agarwal ◽  
Christian Hubicki ◽  
...  

Undulatory swimming in flowing media like water is well-studied, but little is known about loco-motion in environments that are permanently deformed by body–substrate interactions like snakes in sand, eels in mud, and nematode worms in rotting fruit. We study the desert-specialist snake Chion-actis occipitalis traversing granular matter and find body inertia is negligible despite rapid transit and speed dependent granular reaction forces. New surface resistive force theory (RFT) calculation reveals how this snakes wave shape minimizes memory effects and optimizes escape performance given physiological limitations (power). RFT explains the morphology and waveform dependent performance of a diversity of non-sand-specialist, but overpredicts the capability of snakes with high slip. Robophysical experiments recapitulate aspects of these failure-prone snakes and elucidate how reencountering previously remodeled material hinders performance. This study reveals how memory effects stymied the locomotion of a diversity of snakes in our previous studies [Marvi et al, Science, 2014] and suggests the existence of a predictive model for history-dependent granular physics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
Sarah Klopp Christensen ◽  
Aaron Wayne Johnson ◽  
Natalie Van Wagoner ◽  
Taryn E. Corey ◽  
Matthew S. McClung ◽  
...  

Irish dance has evolved in aesthetics that lead to greater physical demands on dancers' bodies. Irish dancers must land from difficult moves without letting their knees bend or heels touch the ground, causing large forces to be absorbed by the body. The majority of injuries incurred by Irish dancers are due to overuse (79.6%). The purpose of this study was to determine loads on the body of female Irish dancers, including peak force, rise rate of force, and impulse, in eight common Irish hard shoe and soft shoe dance movements. It was hypothesized that these movements would produce different ground reac- tion force (GRF) characteristics. Sixteen female Irish dancers were recruited from the three highest competitive levels. Each performed a warm-up, reviewed the eight movements, and then performed each movement three times on a force plate, four in soft shoes and four in hard shoes. Ground reaction forces were measured using a three-dimensional force plate recording at 1,000 Hz. Peak force, rise rate, and vertical impulse were calculated. Peak forces normalized by each dancer's body weight for each of these variables were significantly different between move- ments and shoe types [F(15, 15)= 65.4, p < 0.01; F(15, 15) = 65.0, p < 0.01; and F(15, 15) = 67.4, p < 0.01, respectively]. The variable years of experience was not correlated with peak force, rise rate, or impulse (p > 0.40). It is concluded that there was a large range in GRF characteristics among the eight movements studied. Understanding the force of each dance step will allow instructors to develop training routines that help dancers adapt gradually to the high forces experienced in Irish dance training and competitions, thereby limiting the potential for overuse injuries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 5299
Author(s):  
Łukasz Sikorski ◽  
Andrzej Czamara

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of, and the correlation between, an average of 42 supervised physiotherapy (SVPh) visits for the vertical ground reaction forces component (vGRF) using ankle hops during two- and one-legged vertical hops (TLH and OLH, respectively), six months after the surgical suturing of the Achilles tendon using the open method (SSATOM) via Keesler’s technique. Hypothesis: Six months of supervised physiotherapy with a higher number of visits (SPHNVs) was positively correlated with higher vGRF values during TLH and OLH. Group I comprised male patients (n = 23) after SSATOM (SVPh x = 42 visits), and Group II comprised males (n = 23) without Achilles tendon injuries. In the study groups, vGRF was measured during TLH and OLH in the landing phase using two force plates. The vGRF was normalized to the body mass. The limb symmetry index (LSI) of vGRF values was calculated. The ranges of motion of the foot and circumferences of the ankle joint and shin were measured. Then, 10 m unassisted walking, the Thompson test, and pain were assessed. A parametric test for dependent and independent samples, ANOVA and Tukey’s test for between-group comparisons, and linear Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculations were performed. Group I revealed significantly lower vGRF values during TLH and OLH for the operated limb and LSI values compared with the right and left legs in Group II (p ≤ 0.001). A larger number of visits correlates with higher vGRF values for the operated limb during TLH (r = 0.503; p = 0.014) and OLH (r = 0.505; p = 0.014). An average of 42 SVPh visits in 6 months was insufficient to obtain similar values of relative vGRF and their LSI during TLH and OLH, but the hypothesis was confirmed that SPHNVs correlate with higher relative vGRF values during TLH and OLH in the landing phase.


1999 ◽  
Vol 202 (12) ◽  
pp. 1603-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L. Jindrich ◽  
R.J. Full

Remarkable similarities in the vertical plane of forward motion exist among diverse legged runners. The effect of differences in posture may be reflected instead in maneuverability occurring in the horizontal plane. The maneuver we selected was turning during rapid running by the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis, a sprawled-postured arthropod. Executing a turn successfully involves at least two requirements. The animal's mean heading (the direction of the mean velocity vector of the center of mass) must be deflected, and the animal's body must rotate to keep the body axis aligned with the heading. We used two-dimensional kinematics to estimate net forces and rotational torques, and a photoelastic technique to estimate single-leg ground-reaction forces during turning. Stride frequencies and duty factors did not differ among legs during turning. The inside legs ended their steps closer to the body than during straight-ahead running, suggesting that they contributed to turning the body. However, the inside legs did not contribute forces or torques to turning the body, but actively pushed against the turn. Legs farther from the center of rotation on the outside of the turn contributed the majority of force and torque impulse which caused the body to turn. The dynamics of turning could not be predicted from kinematic measurements alone. To interpret the single-leg forces observed during turning, we have developed a general model that relates leg force production and leg position to turning performance. The model predicts that all legs could turn the body. Front legs can contribute most effectively to turning by producing forces nearly perpendicular to the heading, whereas middle and hind legs must produce additional force parallel to the heading. The force production necessary to turn required only minor alterations in the force hexapods generate during dynamically stable, straight-ahead locomotion. A consideration of maneuverability in the horizontal plane revealed that a sprawled-postured, hexapodal body design may provide exceptional performance with simplified control.


2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (11) ◽  
pp. 1979-1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace O. Bennett ◽  
Rachel S. Simons ◽  
Elizabeth L. Brainerd

SUMMARY The function of the lateral hypaxial muscles during locomotion in tetrapods is controversial. Currently, there are two hypotheses of lateral hypaxial muscle function. The first, supported by electromyographic (EMG) data from a lizard (Iguana iguana) and a salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), suggests that hypaxial muscles function to bend the body during swimming and to resist long-axis torsion during walking. The second, supported by EMG data from lizards during relatively high-speed locomotion, suggests that these muscles function primarily to bend the body during locomotion, not to resist torsional forces. To determine whether the results from D. ensatus hold for another salamander, we recorded lateral hypaxial muscle EMGs synchronized with body and limb kinematics in the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. In agreement with results from aquatic locomotion in D. ensatus, all four layers of lateral hypaxial musculature were found to show synchronous EMG activity during swimming in A. tigrinum. Our findings for terrestrial locomotion also agree with previous results from D. ensatus and support the torsion resistance hypothesis for terrestrial locomotion. We observed asynchronous EMG bursts of relatively high intensity in the lateral and medial pairs of hypaxial muscles during walking in tiger salamanders (we call these ‘α-bursts’). We infer from this pattern that the more lateral two layers of oblique hypaxial musculature, Mm. obliquus externus superficialis (OES) and obliquus externus profundus (OEP), are active on the side towards which the trunk is bending, while the more medial two layers, Mm. obliquus internus (OI) and transversus abdominis (TA), are active on the opposite side. This result is consistent with the hypothesis proposed for D. ensatus that the OES and OEP generate torsional moments to counteract ground reaction forces generated by forelimb support, while the OI and TA generate torsional moments to counteract ground reaction forces from hindlimb support. However, unlike the EMG pattern reported for D. ensatus, a second, lower-intensity burst of EMG activity (‘β-burst’) was sometimes recorded from the lateral hypaxial muscles in A. tigrinum. As seen in other muscle systems, these β-bursts of hypaxial muscle coactivation may function to provide fine motor control during locomotion. The presence of asynchronous, relatively high-intensity α-bursts indicates that the lateral hypaxial muscles generate torsional moments during terrestrial locomotion, but it is possible that the balance of forces from both α- and β-bursts may allow the lateral hypaxial muscles to contribute to lateral bending of the body as well.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Lien Chien ◽  
Tsung-Yuan Tsai ◽  
Tung-Wu Lu

Despite the growing popularity in recent years of elliptical exercise (EE), little is known regarding the loadings applied to the body during EE. Since overloading to the body may lead to early fatigue of the muscles and increase the incidence of overuse injuries, such information is necessary for safe use of the elliptical trainer (ET) as a fitness tool. The current study aimed to determine the typical patterns and loading rates of the measured pedal reaction forces (PRF), and to quantify their differences from those during level walking, and the effects of pedaling rate. Fifteen male adults performed level walking and EE while 3D marker data, right PRFs and ground reaction forces (GRF) were measured. The parameters of the ET were set for two different pedal rates: 50 rpm and 70 rpm. For each pedal rate, the parameters were set to match the variables measured during level walking, with a mean step length of 55% leg length and no workload. During early stance the vertical PRF was smaller than the GRF, while the medial and posterior PRF were greater. PRFs also occurred during swing. Loading rates around heelstrike during EE were all smaller than those during walking. The medial, anterior and posterior PRF, as well as the medial and vertial loading rates increased with increasing pedal rates. The basic force patterns of EE and the effects of pedal rate were established in order to determine the true potential for such instrumentation in locomotion analysis. The results will be helpful for future related studies.


1991 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Takei

It was hypothesized that the techniques employed by two groups of male gymnasts in performing the handspring and salto forward tucked vault at the 1988 Olympics were not significantly different. The 11 highest scored vaults (Gl) of the 51 subjects filmed during the competition were compared with the 11 lowest scored vaults (G2). The G1 had (a) significantly greater horizontal velocity of hurdle and preflight and (b) significantly greater vertical reaction forces exerted on them by the horse, which in turn produced a significantly greater change of vertical velocity while on horse. Consequently, the better gymnasts departed from the horse with significantly greater vertical velocity, which resulted in significantly greater height, larger distance, and longer time of postflight than the gymnasts in G2. The better gymnasts had the instant of the tightest tuck position while significantly nearer the instant of peak postflight than the G2 gymnasts, which caused the height of CG at the tightest tuck position to be significantly greater for the better gymnasts. During the subsequent phase of the vault, the better gymnasts moved out of the tuck position higher in midair, extended the body more fully, and held this extended position longer to a controlled landing on the mat, all of which the judges are seeking.


2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma S. Islam ◽  
Pavel V. Zelenin

Two forms of undulatory locomotion in the lamprey (a lower vertebrate) have been described earlier: fast forward swimming (FFS) used for long distance migrations and slow backward swimming (SBS) used for escape from adverse tactile stimuli. In the present study, we describe another form of escape behavior: slow forward swimming (SFS). We characterize the kinematic and electromyographic patterns of SFS and compare them with SBS and FFS. The most striking feature of SFS is nonuniformity of shape and speed of the locomotor waves propagating along the body: close to the site of stimulation, the waves slow down and the body curvature increases several-fold due to enhanced muscle activity. Lesions of afferents showed that sensory information critical for elicitation of SFS is transmitted through the dorsal roots. In contrast, sensory signals that induce SBS are transmitted through the dorsal roots, lateral line nerves, and trigeminal nerves. Persistence of SFS and SBS after different lesions of the spinal cord suggests that the ascending and descending pathways, necessary for induction of SBS and SFS, are dispersed over the cross section of the spinal cord. As shown previously, during FFS (but not SBS) the lamprey maintains the dorsal-side-up body orientation due to vestibular postural reflexes. In this study we have found that the orientation control is absent during SFS. The role of the spinal cord and the brain stem in generation of different forms of undulatory locomotion is discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zhong ◽  
Jialei Song ◽  
Haoyong Yu ◽  
Ruxu Du

Recent state-of-art researches on robot fish focus on revealing different swimming mechanisms and developing control methods to imitate the kinematics of the real fish formulated by the so-called Lighthill's theory. However, the reason why robot fish must follow this formula has not been fully studied. In this paper, we adopt a biomimetic untethered robot fish to study the kinematics of fish flapping. The robot fish consists of a wire-driven body and a soft compliant tail, which can perform undulatory motion using one motor. A dynamic model integrated with surrounding fluid is developed to predict the cruising speed, static thrust, dynamic thrust, and yaw stability of the robot fish. Three driving patterns of the motor are experimented to achieve three kinematic patterns of the robot fish, e.g., triangular pattern, sinusoidal pattern, and an over-cambered sinusoidal pattern. Based on the experiment results, it is found that the sinusoidal pattern generated the largest average static thrust and steady cruising speed, while the triangular pattern achieved the best yaw stability. The over-cambered sinusoidal pattern was compromised in both metrics. Moreover, the kinematics study has shown that the body curves of the robot fish were similar to the referenced body curves presented by the formula when using the sinusoidal pattern, especially the major thrust generation area. This research provides a guidance on the kinematic optimization and motor control of the undulatory robot fish.


2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (15) ◽  
pp. 3527-3532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. Glaister ◽  
Michael S. Orendurff ◽  
Jason A. Schoen ◽  
Glenn K. Klute

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