Transition by head-on collision: mechanically mediated manoeuvres in cockroaches and small robots.

ABSTRACT: Exceptional performance is often considered to be elegant and free of 'errors' or missteps. During the most extreme escape behaviours, neural control can approach or exceed its operating limits in response time and bandwidth. Here we show that small, rapid running cockroaches with robust exoskeletons select head-on collisions with obstacles to maintain the fastest escape speeds possible to transition up a vertical wall. Instead of avoidance, animals use their passive body shape and compliance to negotiate challenging environments. Cockroaches running at over 1 m or 50 body lengths per second transition from the floor to a vertical wall within 75 ms by using their head like an automobile bumper, mechanically mediating the manoeuvre. Inspired by the animal's behaviour, we demonstrate a passi

SUBMITTER: Jayaram K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5832722 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature