A physical model of mantis shrimp for exploring the dynamics of ultrafast systems

Steinhardt, Emma; Hyun, Nak-seung Patrick; Koh, Je‐Sung; Freeburn, Gregory; Rosen, Michelle H.; Temel, Fatma Zeynep; Patek, S. N.; Wood, Robert J.

doi:10.1073/pnas.2026833118

Cited by 38 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(126 reference statements)

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“…The theory of latch-mediated spring actuation (LaMSA) provides a general description of motion characterized by a fast unlatching event that releases stored elastic energy 60,61 . It has been applied to analyze macroscopic biomechanical processes like the striking of a Mantis shrimp's claw and a human finger snap 62,63 . One may expect that LaMSA explains myoneme-based contraction, with the "latch" release triggered by Ca 2+ binding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A unified model for the dynamics of ATP-independent ultrafast contraction

Floyd

Molines

Lei

et al. 2022

Preprint

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In nature, several ciliated protists share the remarkable ability to undergo ultrafast motions using protein assemblies called myonemes, which contract in response to Ca2+ions. These systems are not adequately described by existing theories, such as those of actomyosin contractility and macroscopic biomechanical latches, and new models are needed to understand their mechanism. Here, we image and quantitatively analyze the contractile kinematics observed in two ciliated protists (Vorticella spandSpirostomum sp), and, based on mechanochemistry of the organisms, we introduce a minimal mathematical model that reproduces our and published observations. Analysis of the model reveals a set of three dynamic regimes, which are differentiated by the rate of chemical driving and the importance of inertia. We describe their distinct scaling behaviors and kinematic signatures. In addition to providing insight into Ca2+-powered myoneme contraction in protists, our work can guide the rational design of ultrafast bioengineered systems such as active synthetic cells.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A unified model for the dynamics of ATP-independent ultrafast contraction

Floyd

Molines

Lei

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…A torque reversal catapult (TRC) mechanism is used for generating an explosive launching of the robot (34,48). The jumping mechanism involves four temporal phases driven by energy storage of the elastic beam based on heating of SMA coil actuator as shown in Figure 7.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Directional takeoff, aerial righting, and adhesion landing of semiaquatic springtails

Ortega-Jimenez,

Challita,

Kim

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Springtails (Collembola) have been traditionally portrayed as explosive jumpers with incipient directional takeoff and uncontrolled landing. However, for these collembolans who live near the water, such skills are crucial for evading a host of voracious aquatic and terrestrial predators. We discover that semiaquatic springtails Isotomurus retardatus can perform directional jumps, rapid aerial righting, and near-perfect landing on the water surface. They achieve these locomotive controls by adjusting their body attitude and impulse during takeoff, deforming their body in mid-air, and exploiting the hydrophilicity of their ventral tube, known as collophore. Experiments and mathematical modeling indicate that directional-impulse control during takeoff is driven by the collophore's adhesion force, the body angle, and the stroke duration produced by their jumping organ, the furcula. In mid-air, springtails curve their bodies to form a U-shape pose, which leverages aerodynamic forces to right themselves in less than ∼20 ms, the fastest ever measured in animals. A stable equilibrium is facilitated by the water adhered to the collophore. Aerial righting was confirmed by placing springtails in a vertical wind tunnel and through physical models. Due to these aerial responses, springtails land on their ventral side ∼85% of the time while anchoring via the collophore on the water surface to avoid bouncing. We validated the springtail biophysical principles in a bioinspired jumping robot that reduces in-flight rotation and lands upright ∼75% of the time. Thus, contrary to common belief, these wingless hexapods can jump, skydive and land with outstanding control that can be fundamental for survival. Springtails | jumping control | aerial righting | landing | interfacial locomotionAuthor Contributions: VMO-J conceived and designed the study, collected animals, performed animal experiments; VMO-J, HK, EJC, and MSB analyzed data; HK conceived theoretical model on directional jumping. EJC conceived theoretical model and simulation on landing impact on the water; BK,MG, and J-SK designed jumping robot and analyzed data; VMO-J, HK, EJC, EC, MSB, BK, and J-SK interpreted the results and wrote the paper.

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“…[ 9,10 ] Mantis shrimp can make use of a saddle‐shaped exoskeletal spring mechanism to produce an extremely fast and powerful punch to smash shells and impale fish. [ 11,12 ] All these fast‐snapping behaviors play a significant role in the survival of living organisms, which allow those slow‐moving species to efficiently enable rapid hunting, escaping, spreading seeds, [ 13,14 ] and overcoming large obstacles, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging Bioinspired Structural Constraints for Tunable and Programmable Snapping Dynamics in High‐Speed Soft Actuators

Wang

Zhao

Fan

et al. 2022

Adv Funct Materials

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Creating high‐speed soft actuators will have broad engineering and technological applications. Snapping provides a power‐amplified mechanism to achieve rapid movements in soft actuators that typically show slow movements. However, precise control of snapping dynamics (e.g., speed and direction of launching or jumping) remains a daunting challenge. Here, a bioinspired design principle is presented that harnesses a reconfigurable constraint structure integrated into a photoactive liquid crystal elastomer actuator to enable tunable and programmable control over its snapping dynamics. By reconfiguring constrained fin‐array‐shaped structure, the snapping dynamics of the structured actuator, such as launching or jumping angle and height, motion speed, and release force can be on‐demand tuned, thus enabling controllable catapult motion and programmable jumping. Moreover, the structured actuators exhibit a unique combination of ultrafast moving speed (up to 2.5 m s−1 in launching and 0.22 m s−1 in jumping), powerful ejection (long ejection distance of ≈20 cm, 35 mg ball), and high jumping height (≈8 cm, 40 times body lengths), which few other soft actuators can achieve. This study provides a new universal design paradigm for realizing controllable rapid movements and high‐power motions in soft matter, which are useful for building high‐performance soft robotics and actuation devices.

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A physical model of mantis shrimp for exploring the dynamics of ultrafast systems

Cited by 38 publications

References 72 publications

A unified model for the dynamics of ATP-independent ultrafast contraction

A unified model for the dynamics of ATP-independent ultrafast contraction

Directional takeoff, aerial righting, and adhesion landing of semiaquatic springtails

Leveraging Bioinspired Structural Constraints for Tunable and Programmable Snapping Dynamics in High‐Speed Soft Actuators

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