Abstract
In this study, a bio-inspired dung beetle robot was developed that emulated the dung rolling motion of the dung beetle. Dung beetles, which can roll objects up to 1000 times their own body weight, are one of the strongest insect species in the world. While the locomotion of many insects, such as cockroaches, inchworms, and butterflies, has been studied widely, the locomotion of dung beetles has rarely been given attention. Here, we report on the development of a dung beetle robot made specifically to investigate dung-rolling behavior and to determine and understand the underlying mechanism. Two versions of the robot were built, and the leg trajectories were carefully designed based on kinematic analysis. Cylinder and ball rolling experiments were conducted, and the results showed that the dung beetle robot could successfully and reliably roll objects. This further suggests that the dung beetle robot, with its current morphology, is capable of reliably rolling dung without the need for complex control strategies.
Highlights
Research into bio-inspired robots has developed rapidly over the past twenty years as the quality of motors, sensors, and processors has improved
In this study on the development of a dung beetle robot to simulate dung rolling motion, the robot went through two design iterations
Only sagittal plane rolling motion was considered, the dung was simulated by a cylinder, and the four mid- and hind-legs were represented by only two
Summary
Research into bio-inspired robots has developed rapidly over the past twenty years as the quality of motors, sensors, and processors has improved. Some of these robots are even autonomous and can maintain a high degree of stability and reliability. Bio-inspired robots have many potential applications in areas, such as education, entertainment, the military, and rescue operations. MantisBot developed by Quinn et al imitates the mantis, and is controlled by a high-fidelity neural simulation. It has 28 DOFs to implement directed behavior, such as prey tracking and striking [9].
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