College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2025-04-23 09:59:51
Major
Biomedical Science
Honors Course
Honors Research Project
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2025
Abstract
The four main movements found in snakes are understood mainly due to external study; however, muscular forces and resulting torques are poorly known. The main research objective is to study the torque production on different substrates using a snakebot. The study will give a rudimentary model for torque production on different substrates. It can then be compared against biological systems to understand snake movement at a muscular level. This study used a snakebot, allowing direct assessment of the current being run through each of its motors (proportional to torque). Data was then examined using a Principal Component Analysis test for patterns and variation. Results showed less variance on smooth substrates than on the obstacle-embedded rough substrate. With the latter, rough surface torque increased throughout each of the motors. One of the study's important insights was a cyclic movement in smooth and rough substrates, producing a consistent Sine and Cosine wave. The study's significance is that torques in each system were broadly similar in pattern, primarily differing in magnitude and variability between substrates. Potential applications from this study include incorporating cyclic movement in biomimetic systems and studying biological systems to determine what torque forces are being applied through a biological system.
Research Sponsor
Henry Astley
First Reader
Alan Snow
Second Reader
R. Joel Duff
Honors Faculty Advisor
Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Bradford, Spencer and Astley, Henry, "Elongate Locomotors Show Consistent Torque Patterns Across Substrates" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1938.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1938
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Biophysics Commons, Integrative Biology Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Physiology Commons