Abstract
Locusts generally live and move in complex environments including different kind of substrates, ranging from compliant leaves to stiff branches. Since the contact force generates deformation of the substrate, a certain amount of energy is dissipated each time when locust jumps from a compliant substrate. In published researches, it is proven that only tree frogs are capable of recovering part of the energy that had been accumulated in the substrate as deformation energy in the initial pushing phase, just before leaving the ground. The jumping performances of adult Locusta migratoria on substrates of three different compliances demonstrate that locusts are able to adapt their jumping mode to the mechanical characteristics of the substrate. Recorded high speed videos illustrate the existence of deformed substrate's recoil before the end of the takeoff phase when locusts jump from compliant substrates, which indicates their ability of recovering part of energy from the substrate deformation. This adaptability is supposed to be related to the catapult mechanism adopted in locusts' jump thanks to their long hind legs and sticky tarsus. These findings improve the understanding of the jumping mechanism of locusts, as well as can be used to develop artifact outperforming current jumping robots in unstructured scenarios.
Highlights
Many animals can move on several kinds of substrates
The roughness, compliance, Young modulus, humidity and even viscosity of a substrate could be key parameters that impact the contact and the strategies an animal adopts to move on that particular substrate
Jumping performances of locusts are strongly connected with body weight and, as concerns locusts tested in the present study, females (Mean = 2.11, Std error = 0.02) are significant heavier than males (Mean = 1.47, Std error = 0.02, F1, 225 = 706.37, P < 0.001)
Summary
Many animals can move on several kinds of substrates. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials. The physical interaction between an animal and a particular substrate can be considered as a complex adhesion and contact problem in which two bodies are involved. Both have various geometrical, mechanical and chemical properties (Gorb and Gorb, 2009). The roughness, compliance (or inverse, stiffness), Young modulus, humidity and even viscosity of a substrate could be key parameters that impact the contact and the strategies an animal adopts to move on that particular substrate. These strategies have inspired roboticists to enhance the locomotion ability and environmental adaptability of their robots (Sitti and Fearing, 2003; Menon et al, 2004; Unver et al, 2006; Sintov et al, 2011; Lee, 2018)
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