A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion

Abstract Annelids such as earthworms are considered to have central pattern generators (CPGs) that generate rhythms in neural circuits to coordinate the deformation of body segments for effective locomotion. At present, the states of earthworm‐like robot segments are often assigned holistically and...

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Main Authors: Qinyan Zhou, Jian Xu, Hongbin Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-05-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206336
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author Qinyan Zhou
Jian Xu
Hongbin Fang
author_facet Qinyan Zhou
Jian Xu
Hongbin Fang
author_sort Qinyan Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Annelids such as earthworms are considered to have central pattern generators (CPGs) that generate rhythms in neural circuits to coordinate the deformation of body segments for effective locomotion. At present, the states of earthworm‐like robot segments are often assigned holistically and artificially by mimicking the earthworms’ retrograde peristalsis wave, which is unable to adapt their gaits for variable environments and tasks. This motivates the authors to extend the bioinspired research from morphology to neurobiology by mimicking the CPG to build a versatile framework for spontaneous motion control. Here, the spatiotemporal dynamics is exploited from the coupled Hopf oscillators to not only unify the two existing gait generators for restoring temporal‐symmetric phase‐coordinated gaits and discrete gaits but also generate novel temporal‐asymmetric phase‐coordinated gaits. Theoretical and experimental tests consistently confirm that the introduction of temporal asymmetry improves the robot's locomotion performance. The CPG‐based controller also enables seamless online switching of locomotion gaits to avoid abrupt changes, sharp stops, and starts, thus improving the robot's adaptability in variable working scenarios.
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spelling doaj-art-65c8899c493d47e6850f2db4540224262025-08-20T03:36:45ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442023-05-011014n/an/a10.1002/advs.202206336A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic LocomotionQinyan Zhou0Jian Xu1Hongbin Fang2Institute of AI and Robotics State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology MOE Engineering Research Center of AI & Robotics Fudan University Shanghai 200433 ChinaInstitute of AI and Robotics State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology MOE Engineering Research Center of AI & Robotics Fudan University Shanghai 200433 ChinaInstitute of AI and Robotics State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology MOE Engineering Research Center of AI & Robotics Fudan University Shanghai 200433 ChinaAbstract Annelids such as earthworms are considered to have central pattern generators (CPGs) that generate rhythms in neural circuits to coordinate the deformation of body segments for effective locomotion. At present, the states of earthworm‐like robot segments are often assigned holistically and artificially by mimicking the earthworms’ retrograde peristalsis wave, which is unable to adapt their gaits for variable environments and tasks. This motivates the authors to extend the bioinspired research from morphology to neurobiology by mimicking the CPG to build a versatile framework for spontaneous motion control. Here, the spatiotemporal dynamics is exploited from the coupled Hopf oscillators to not only unify the two existing gait generators for restoring temporal‐symmetric phase‐coordinated gaits and discrete gaits but also generate novel temporal‐asymmetric phase‐coordinated gaits. Theoretical and experimental tests consistently confirm that the introduction of temporal asymmetry improves the robot's locomotion performance. The CPG‐based controller also enables seamless online switching of locomotion gaits to avoid abrupt changes, sharp stops, and starts, thus improving the robot's adaptability in variable working scenarios.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206336bioinspired robotcentral pattern generatorsgait generationgait transitionspatiotemporal dynamics
spellingShingle Qinyan Zhou
Jian Xu
Hongbin Fang
A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
Advanced Science
bioinspired robot
central pattern generators
gait generation
gait transition
spatiotemporal dynamics
title A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
title_full A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
title_fullStr A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
title_full_unstemmed A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
title_short A CPG‐Based Versatile Control Framework for Metameric Earthworm‐Like Robotic Locomotion
title_sort cpg based versatile control framework for metameric earthworm like robotic locomotion
topic bioinspired robot
central pattern generators
gait generation
gait transition
spatiotemporal dynamics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206336
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AT qinyanzhou cpgbasedversatilecontrolframeworkformetamericearthwormlikeroboticlocomotion
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