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Tuo Z, Yang K, Ma S, Cui J, Shi Y, Zhao H, Liang Y, Liu C, Lin Z, Han Z, Ren L. Multi-Level Structural Enhancement Mechanism of the Excellent Mechanical Properties of Dung Beetle Leg Joint. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311588. [PMID: 38497502 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The multi-level structure is a strategy to enhance the mechanical properties of dung beetle leg joints. Under external loads, the microstructure facilitates energy dissipation and prevents crack extension. The macrostructure aids in transferring the load to more reliable parts. The connection established by the two hemispheres is present in the dung beetle leg joint. The micron-layered and nanoscale crystal structures further constitute the leg joint with excellent mechanical properties. The maximum compression fracture force is ≈101000 times the weight of the leg. Here, the structural design within the dung beetle leg joints and reveal the resulting mechanical response and enhancement mechanisms is determined. A series of beetle leg joints where the macrostructure and microstructure of the dung beetle leg provide mechanical strength at critical strains while avoiding catastrophic failure by transferring the load from the joint to the exoskeleton of the femur is highlighted. Nanocrystalline structures and fiber layers contribute to crack propagation of the exoskeleton. Based on this, the bionic joint with multi-level structures using resin and conducted a series of tests to verify their effectiveness is prepared. This study provides a new idea for designing and optimizing high-load joints in engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Tuo
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Kaisheng Yang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Suqian Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Jiandong Cui
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Yu Shi
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Yunhong Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
- Institute of Structured and Architected Materials, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110167, China
- National Key Laboratory of Automotive Chassis Integration and Bionics, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Changyi Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Zhaohua Lin
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Zhiwu Han
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
- Institute of Structured and Architected Materials, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110167, China
| | - Luquan Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
- Institute of Structured and Architected Materials, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang, 110167, China
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Zong L, Sun Z, Zhao J, Huang Z, Liu X, Jiang L, Li C, Muinde JM, Wu J, Wang X, Liang H, Liu H, Yang Y, Ge S. A self-locking mechanism of the frog-legged beetle Sagra femorata. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38282236 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Insect legs play a crucial role in various modes of locomotion, including walking, jumping, swimming, and other forms of movement. The flexibility of their leg joints is critical in enabling various modes of locomotion. The frog-legged leaf beetle Sagra femorata possesses remarkably enlarged hind legs, which are considered to be a critical adaptation that enables the species to withstand external pressures. When confronted with external threats, S. femorata initiates a stress response by rapidly rotating its hind legs backward and upward to a specific angle, thereby potentially intimidating potential assailants. Based on video analysis, we identified 4 distinct phases of the hind leg rotation process in S. femorata, which were determined by the range of rotation angles (0°-168.77°). Utilizing micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) technology, we performed a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and conducted relative positioning and volumetric analysis of the metacoxa and metatrochanter of S. femorata. Our analysis revealed that the metacoxa-trochanter joint is a "screw-nut" structure connected by 4 muscles, which regulate the rotation of the legs. Further testing using a 3D-printed model of the metacoxa-trochanter joint demonstrated its possession of a self-locking mechanism capable of securing the legs in specific positions to prevent excessive rotation and dislocation. It can be envisioned that this self-locking mechanism holds potential for application in bio-inspired robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zonghui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jieliang Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengzhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaokun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Congqiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jacob Mulwa Muinde
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianing Wu
- School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuxia Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Siqin Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Bijma NN, Billeschou P, Baird E, Dacke M, Kovalev A, Filippov AE, Manoonpong P, Gorb SN. The effect of surface topography on the ball-rolling ability of Kheper lamarcki (Scarabaeidae). J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb245920. [PMID: 38018408 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The most effective way to avoid intense inter- and intra-specific competition at the dung source, and to increase the distance to the other competitors, is to follow a single straight bearing. While ball-rolling dung beetles manage to roll their dung balls along nearly perfect straight paths when traversing flat terrain, the paths that they take when traversing more complex (natural) terrain are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the effect of complex surface topographies on the ball-rolling ability of Kheper lamarcki. Our results reveal that ball-rolling trajectories are strongly influenced by the characteristic scale of the surface structure. Surfaces with an increasing similarity between the average distance of elevations and the ball radius cause progressively more difficulties during ball transportation. The most important factor causing difficulties in ball transportation appears to be the slope of the substrate. Our results show that, on surfaces with a slope of 7.5 deg, more than 60% of the dung beetles lose control of their ball. Although dung beetles still successfully roll their dung ball against the slope on such inclinations, their ability to roll the dung ball sideways diminishes. However, dung beetles do not seem to adapt their path on inclines such that they roll their ball in the direction against the slope. We conclude that dung beetles strive for a straight trajectory away from the dung pile, and that their actual path is the result of adaptations to particular surface topographies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke N Bijma
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Peter Billeschou
- SDU Biorobotics, The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M DK-5230, Denmark
| | - Emily Baird
- Department of Functional Zoomorphology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 18b, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Marie Dacke
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Alexander Kovalev
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander E Filippov
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
- Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 83114 Donetsk, Ukraine
| | - Poramate Manoonpong
- SDU Biorobotics, The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M DK-5230, Denmark
- Bio-inspired Robotics & Neural Engineering Lab, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, 21210 Rayong, Thailand
| | - Stanislav N Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
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Manoonpong P, Patanè L, Xiong X, Brodoline I, Dupeyroux J, Viollet S, Arena P, Serres JR. Insect-Inspired Robots: Bridging Biological and Artificial Systems. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:7609. [PMID: 34833685 PMCID: PMC8623770 DOI: 10.3390/s21227609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This review article aims to address common research questions in hexapod robotics. How can we build intelligent autonomous hexapod robots that can exploit their biomechanics, morphology, and computational systems, to achieve autonomy, adaptability, and energy efficiency comparable to small living creatures, such as insects? Are insects good models for building such intelligent hexapod robots because they are the only animals with six legs? This review article is divided into three main sections to address these questions, as well as to assist roboticists in identifying relevant and future directions in the field of hexapod robotics over the next decade. After an introduction in section (1), the sections will respectively cover the following three key areas: (2) biomechanics focused on the design of smart legs; (3) locomotion control; and (4) high-level cognition control. These interconnected and interdependent areas are all crucial to improving the level of performance of hexapod robotics in terms of energy efficiency, terrain adaptability, autonomy, and operational range. We will also discuss how the next generation of bioroboticists will be able to transfer knowledge from biology to robotics and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poramate Manoonpong
- Embodied Artificial Intelligence and Neurorobotics Laboratory, SDU Biorobotics, The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark;
- Bio-Inspired Robotics and Neural Engineering Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong 21210, Thailand
| | - Luca Patanè
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy
| | - Xiaofeng Xiong
- Embodied Artificial Intelligence and Neurorobotics Laboratory, SDU Biorobotics, The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Ilya Brodoline
- Department of Biorobotics, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, ISM, CEDEX 07, 13284 Marseille, France; (I.B.); (S.V.)
| | - Julien Dupeyroux
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 52600 Delft, The Netherlands;
| | - Stéphane Viollet
- Department of Biorobotics, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, ISM, CEDEX 07, 13284 Marseille, France; (I.B.); (S.V.)
| | - Paolo Arena
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
| | - Julien R. Serres
- Department of Biorobotics, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, ISM, CEDEX 07, 13284 Marseille, France; (I.B.); (S.V.)
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