This proposal examines how legged animals move on land. By studying the energetics and mechanics of a diverse group of animals, the findings will: 1) provide the general "rules" that animals follow for terrestrial locomotion; 2) aid in delineating the various ways in which muscles have been engineered; 3) lead to new questions in the integrated control of locomotion based on whole animal mechanics; 4) supply much needed data for ecological models focusing on the genetics and developmental aspects of locomotion; and 6) help reconstruct the origins of legged terrestrial locomotion. The applied benefits of the research include: 1) new designs for micro-machines and robots; 2) improvements on the design of vehicular legged-walking machines; and 3) generation of useful metabolic data for environmental impact studies and pest management.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
Application #
8904586
Program Officer
Vincent P. Gutschick
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1989-07-01
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
$196,700
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704