Mechanosensory Control of Locomotion in Animals and Robots: Moving Forward

Synopsis While animals swim, crawl, walk, and fly with apparent ease, building robots capable of robust locomotion remains a significant challenge. In this review, we draw attention to mechanosensation—the sensing of mechanical forces generated within and outside the body—as a key sense that enables...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Integrative and comparative biology 2023-08, Vol.63 (2), p.450-463
Main Authors: Dallmann, Chris J, Dickerson, Bradley H, Simpson, Julie H, Wyart, Claire, Jayaram, Kaushik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Locomotion - physiology
Robotics - methods
Swimming
Symposium
Walking
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Summary:Synopsis While animals swim, crawl, walk, and fly with apparent ease, building robots capable of robust locomotion remains a significant challenge. In this review, we draw attention to mechanosensation—the sensing of mechanical forces generated within and outside the body—as a key sense that enables robust locomotion in animals. We discuss differences between mechanosensation in animals and current robots with respect to (1) the encoding properties and distribution of mechanosensors and (2) the integration and regulation of mechanosensory feedback. We argue that robotics would benefit greatly from a detailed understanding of these aspects in animals. To that end, we highlight promising experimental and engineering approaches to study mechanosensation, emphasizing the mutual benefits for biologists and engineers that emerge from moving forward together.
ISSN:1540-7063
1557-7023
1557-7023
DOI:10.1093/icb/icad057