Biomimetics on gecko locomotion

Abstract

The systematical report presents our studies on the gecko that integrated biological fundaments for biomimetics - morphology, locomotive mechanics, neural signal decoding and adhesive mechanism that developed a gecko-inspired robot and gecko-robot. A 3 dimensional locomotion gait for a gecko moving on the floor, wall and ceiling was obtained by using one high speed camera recording and image processing. The effect of electric potential on the adhesion was studied. The gecko's foot-toe, a 22 degree-of-freedom motion system, was modulated by stimulating the three neurons on the limb. A stereotaxis method was proposed and the instrument was developed. The brain atlas for the gecko was primarily set up. Based on biological understanding, a bio-inspired gecko-like robot was developed and the characteristics of the mechanics were investigated. The robot's gait and motion coordination was introduced from the three dimensional gait results. Locomotion of the gecko was modulated by implanting electrodes into the gecko's middle brain and stimulating by a wireless controlling system.