Friction modulation in limbless, three-dimensional gaits and heterogeneous terrains.

ABSTRACT: Motivated by a possible convergence of terrestrial limbless locomotion strategies ultimately determined by interfacial effects, we show how both 3D gait alterations and locomotory adaptations to heterogeneous terrains can be understood through the lens of local friction modulation. Via an effective-friction modeling approach, compounded by 3D simulations, the emergence and disappearance of a range of locomotory behaviors observed in nature is systematically explained in relation to inhabited environments. Our approach also simplifies the treatment of terrain heterogeneity, whereby even solid obstacles may be seen as high friction regions, which we confirm against experiments of snakes 'diffracting' while traversing rows of posts, similar to optical waves. We further this optic analogy by i

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8526626 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature