A control system for a flexible spine belly-dancing humanoid

Segmental specificity in belly dance mimics primal trunk locomotor patterns

Belly dance was used to investigate control of rhythmic undulating trunk movements in humans. Activation patterns in lumbar erector spinae muscles were recorded using surface electromyography at four segmental levels spanning T10 to L4. Muscle activation patterns for movement tempos of 2 Hz, 3 Hz, and as fast as possible (up to 6 Hz) were compared to test the hypothesis that frequency modulates muscle timing, causing pattern changes analogous to gait transitions. Groups of trained and untrained female subjects were compared to test the hypothesis that experience modifies muscle coordination patterns and the capacity for selective motion of spinal segments. Three distinct coordination patterns were observed. An ipsilateral simultaneous pattern (S) and a diagonal synergy (D) dominated at lower frequencies. The S pattern was selected most often by novices and resembled the standing wave of activation underlying the alternating lateral trunk bending in salamander trotting. At 2 Hz, most trained subjects selected the D pattern, suggesting a greater capacity for segmental specificity compared with untrained subjects. At 3-4 Hz, there emerged an asynchronous pattern (A) analogous to the rostral-caudal traveling wave in salamander and lamprey swimming. The neural networks and mechanisms identified in primitive vertebrates, such as chains of coupled oscillators and segmental crossed inhibitory connections, could explain the patterns observed in this study in humans. Training allows modification of these patterns, possibly through improved capacity for selectively exciting or inhibiting segmental pattern generators.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Belly dance provides a novel approach for studying spinal cord neural circuits. New evidence suggests that primitive locomotor circuits may be conserved in humans. Erector spinae activation patterns during the hip shimmy at different tempos are similar to those observed in salamander walking and swimming. As movement frequency increases, a sequential pattern similar to lamprey swimming emerges, suggesting that primal involuntary control mechanisms dominate in fast lateral rhythmic spine undulations even in humans.

Motion Editing Tool to Create Dancing Motions of Humanoid Robot

In this paper, a motion editing tool to create dancing motions of a humanoid robot is proposed. In order to build performances or dancing of a humanoid robot, a motion editing tool to create specific motions is necessary. Especially, to generate more natural motions is required for a dancing robot. We proposed a motion editing tool and algorithm to create the natural motions. The proposed motion editing tool can create robot's motions composed of several steps which are captured from every joint while the robot plays. The motion editing tool generates the continuous motion interpolated between each steps. A humanoid robot of 50 cm tall is developed to test the proposed tool. The robot using the motion editing tool was demonstrated the natural dancing performance.

A hybrid CPG-ZMP control system for stable walking of a simulated flexible spine humanoid robot

Biped humanoid robots have gained much popularity in recent years. These robots are mainly controlled by two major control methods, the biologically-inspired approach based on Central Pattern Generator (CPG) and the engineering-oriented approach based on Zero Moment Point (ZMP). Given that flexibility in the body torso is required in some human activities, we believe that it is beneficial for the next generation of humanoid robots to have a flexible spine as humans do. In order to cope with the increased complexity in controlling this type of robot, a new kind of control system is necessary. Currently, there is no controller that allows a flexible spine humanoid robot to maintain stability in real-time while walking with dynamic spine motions. This paper presents a new hybrid CPG-ZMP control system for the walking of a realistically simulated flexible spine humanoid robot. Experimental results showed that using our control method, the robot is able to adapt its spine motions in real-time to allow stable walking. Our control system could be used for the control of the next generation humanoid robots.

The lamprey in evolutionary studies

Lampreys are a key species to study the evolution of morphological characters at the dawn of Craniates and throughout the evolution of the craniate's phylum. Here, we review a number of research fields where studies on lampreys have recently brought significant and fundamental insights on the timing and mechanisms of evolution, on the amazing diversification of morphology and on the emergence of novelties among Craniates. We report recent example studies on neural crest, muscle and the acquisition of jaws, where important technical advancements in lamprey developmental biology have been made (morpholino injections, protein-soaked bead applications or even the first transgenesis trials). We describe progress in the understanding and knowledge about lamprey anatomy and physiology (skeleton, immune system and buccal secretion), ecology (life cycle, embryology), phylogeny (genome duplications, monophyly of cyclostomes), paleontology, embryonic development and the beginnings of lamprey genomics. Finally, in a special focus on the nervous system, we describe how changes in signaling, neurogenesis or neuronal migration patterns during brain development may be at the origin of some important differences observed between lamprey and gnathostome brains.