Award details

The mechanics of locomotion on compliant limbs

Reference	S17488
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Alan Wilson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Royal Veterinary College
Department	Veterinary Basic Sciences - London
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	221,704
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/12/2002
End date	28/02/2006
Duration	39 months

Abstract

Legged robots make the unpaved world accessible. Such robots usually have rigid limbs and are often scaled from insect sized animals. Animals of a similar size to the final robot, however, rely on limb compliance to achieve economical locomotion. We propose to use anatomical measurements, gait analysis and computer simulation to study three animals: the horse, ostrich and camel, which have largely passive elastic limbs. We will determine how they deploy their mechanically simple spring-like limbs to achieve the varied demands of walking and running in the real world. We believe they maximise duty factor and elastic energy storage and minimise centre of mass oscillations. This work will form the basis of novel compliant-limbed robots.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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