... and the ball radius cause progressively more difficulties during ball transportation. The most important factor causing difficulties in ball transportation appears to be the slope of the substrate. Our results show that, on surfaces with a slope of 7.5 deg, more than 60% of the dung beetles lose control...

... and autonomy. Aerodynamics Biomechanics Bird Control Bio-inspired Insect The Royal Veterinary College European Research Council ERC 682501 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/R002657/1 Aviation has been founded upon biological...

... Highlighted Article: Trap-jaw ant strikes reveal how tiny elastic systems can rotate precisely at exceedingly high accelerations while retaining slow, multi-degrees of freedom movement. Biomechanics Springs Elastic recoil Fast movement Control Trap-jaw ants Dynamics U.S. Army Research...

... aliasing is induced by ego motion. We hypothesized that obstructing the control of gaze fixation also disrupts detection and tracking of objects. Using the illusory motion stimulus, we show that magnetically tethered Drosophila track objects robustly in flight even when gaze is not fixated as flies...

...Suzanne M. Cox; Gary B. Gillis ABSTRACT Controlled landing requires preparation. Mammals and bipedal birds vary how they prepare for landing by predicting the timing and magnitude of impact from the integration of visual and non-visual information. Here, we explore how the cane toad Rhinella marina...

... regulator of OXPHOS in multiple species of planarians ( Lemieux and Warren, 2012 ). Our data in D. tigrina point to increased control of OXPHOS by the phosphorylation system as temperature decreases, implicating this system as a potentially important target for cold adaptation. The increase in control...

.../ Highlighted Article: Territorial dragonflies pursuing conspecifics use an underdamped interception strategy, resulting in oscillating pursuit paths that may serve to intimidate or herd intruders out of the territory. Interception Territoriality Guidance Control Kinematics Videography Many...

...Kirsty A. McDonald; Daniel Devaprakash; Jonas Rubenson ABSTRACT Center of mass (COM) control has been proposed to serve economy- and stability-related locomotor task objectives. However, given the lack of evidence supporting direct sensing and/or regulation of the COM, it remains unclear whether...

... in a distance-dependent manner and achieve more extended elbow configurations at impact in longer hops. Anuran Jumping Deceleration Control Landing is an inevitable consequence of jumping. Coordinated landing requires energy dissipation over relatively long time periods, and in many vertebrate...

... is a physical linkage mediating mechanical interactions between body and environment, mechanical tuning of the sensor is critical for effective control. We determined the open-loop dynamics of a tactile sensor, specifically the antenna of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana , an animal that escapes...

... with their environment through their elaborate network of gas-filled trachea. These are ramified into small-diameter tracheoles whose tips lie in close proximity to individual cells in target tissues and organs. Most insects are able to control gas exchange through muscular control of their spiracles, segmental openings...

...Bo Cheng; Xinyan Deng; Tyson L. Hedrick SUMMARY Insects produce a variety of exquisitely controlled manoeuvres during natural flight behaviour. Here we show how hawkmoths produce and control one such manoeuvre, an avoidance response consisting of rapid pitching up, rearward flight, pitching down...

...Graham K. Taylor; Marko Bacic; Richard J. Bomphrey; Anna C. Carruthers; James Gillies; Simon M. Walker; Adrian L. R. Thomas SUMMARY Here we consider how new experimental approaches in biomechanics can be used to attain a systems-level understanding of the dynamics of animal flight control. Our aim...

... feature of locomotion control. The current study examines running gait selection within the framework of constrained optimization by comparing self-selected running gaits to the gaits predicted by constrained optimization of a cost surface constructed from cost data available in the literature...

... debate. Provided the external and internal conditions required to measure SMR are met, it is tacitly assumed that the metabolic rate(B) converges to SMR. If SMR does indeed represent a local minimum, then short-term regulatory control mechanisms should not operate to sustain it. This is a hidden...

... cost contours derived from this surface. Substantial congruence is found between the predicted and observed behavior using the cost of walking per unit distance. Although minimization of cost per distance appears to dominate walking control, certain notable differences from predicted behavior suggest...

... vessel interarterial anastomoses immunohistochemistry control structure organisation long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii The presence of a secondary vascular system in a number of fishes has been well documented (Vogel, 1981 , 1985a , b ; Vogel and Claviez, 1981 ; Steffensen et al...

... stability and static control responses are insufficient to provide asymptotic longitudinal dynamic stability unless they are sensitive to pitch attitude (measured with respect to an inertial or earth-fixed frame)as well as aerodynamic incidence (measured relative to the direction of flight). We find...

...-mass systems. Templates suggest control strategies that can be tested against empirical data. Templates must be grounded in more detailed morphological and physiological models to ask specific questions about multiple legs, the joint torques that actuate them, the recruitment of muscles that produce...

... with simplified control. Our study of maneuverability in cockroaches has shown that a many-legged, sprawled-posture morphology provides a range of immediately available options for maneuvering. The front, middle and hind legs on either side of the body could contribute to turning the body. The front legs...