Seed Proposal: Generating Extreme Speeds and Force from Small, Simple Materials: Biologically Inspired Models from Striking Ability in Trap-jaw Ants
Andrew Suarez, Department of Animal Biology
Fred Delcomyn, Department of Entomology
Xudong Zhang, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Sheila Patek, Integrative Biology, University of California at Berkeley
The trap-jaw ant has an extreme striking ability and is among the fastest biological movements ever recorded. Advances in measurement and video-graphic technologies allows these movements to be characterized with improved precision which results in the characterization of novel mechanisms for energy storage, amplification and release (Patek et al. 2004). This proposal uses trap-jaw ants to identify general design principles for generating, storing and releasing large amounts of force using small, simple materials. In addition to direct measurements, this proposal will develop biomechanical models to characterize these movements. Ultimate goals of this research include the development of biological principles to inspire the design of robots, artificial limbs and muscles, and microtechnology.