Analysis of a network of FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron circuit coupled to an array of mechanical leg to mimic the locomotion of a multi-legged organism

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A bioinspired electromechanical system that employs an array of FitzHugh–Nagumo (FN) neuron circuits designed to drive synchronically an array of mechanical legs is proposed in this paper. The schematic of the electromechanical device is transformed into an equivalent mathematical model thanks to Kirchhoff’s and Newton’s laws. The results of numerical simulations of the model generate an action potential (AP) that follows directly from the excitation of a single block of cell and does not propagate the signal in the neighboring blocks. When the stimulation time is lesser than 3-time units, the AP of the next block is generated during the repolarization of the previous cell, and the instantaneous displacement of the legs of the next block goes operational before the resting state of the previous block of the cell. For stimulation time greater than or equal to 3-time units, the AP is initiated just after the repolarization of the previous block of cells has terminated its activities and the instantaneous displacement of the leg of the next block goes operational, a direct consequence of neuron's communication without loss of amplitude in the permanent regime. Finally, straightforward motion without rotation is achieved.