Hey robot, shimmy like a centipede

Centipedes move quickly. And when one is coming directly at you, you might not care to spend a moment pondering its agility.

So perhaps our lack of understanding about just why centipedes move with such dexterity, even over obstacles, has been related to fear. But undeterred, researchers at Kyoto University have asked precisely this question, and have turned to computer simulations and ultimately robotics to find an answer.

What they have uncovered is a surprising insight into the mechanics of locomotion itself, namely that taming instability — a factor that might be a disadvantage — is a key to the centipede's success.

“During their locomotion, many legs are in contact with the ground to support the body against gravity and produce propulsive and decelerating forces,” explains lead scientist Shinya Aoi. “These many legs are physically constrained on the ground, and this constraint can impede their locomotion maneuverability.”

Centipedes overcome these constraints by harnessing instability, producing the creature's characteristic undulating movement.

“Our group developed a mathematical model of centipedes and found that the straight walk becomes unstable and body undulations appear through a supercritical Hopf bifurcation by changing the locomotion speed and body axis flexibility,” continues Aoi, referring to a mathematical description of the walking system's tipping point from stable to unstable.

First with computer models and then with segmented, multi-legged robots, the team was able to replicate the centipede's movement, including the wave-like body motion, as described in a paper in the online journal Scientific Reports.

But Aoi and his colleagues are not satisfied with merely taming creepy crawlies.

“This study provides clues to unresolved issues of intelligent motor functions of animals, and meaningful insight for biological sciences,” he says, pointing out that much remains unknown about the exact mechanics of animal locomotion.

And further down the line, such knowledge could lead to better motion for robots — no matter how many legs they may have.