Tripod Gait System in Cockroaches
Many insects have been able to modify and adapt different functional purposes of the tripod gait. Primarily the gait is performed in a similar sensory manner to humans. Before each step we take, we internally and physically reassure ourselves that it is not detrimental to take that next stride. Insects do this as well in a way that their sensory organs on the end of their tarsus reassure that the environmental stimulus/surface is safe for the subsequent stride. Some insects though have functionally adapted to not require sensory input for each gaiting mechanism. This has allowed cockroaches to run quite rapidly.
Cockroaches, belonging to the order Blattodea (Britton, 2012), apply high forces while exhibiting the tripod gait, walking up to very fast speeds. Most insects require a sensory response from the substrate they are standing on before taking another step but cockroaches have adapted to move up to long distances without any need of sensory feedback from the sense organs on their appendages. The sensory input/ feedback is too slow in relation to the cockroaches pace of speed. This can have an advantage and disadvantage to the insect in a way that it can productively move at fast speeds and turn quick corners from predators or for prey capture, but it can deleteriously impact the insect due to the fact that sensory feedback is too slow at fast speeds and will therefore disable the contribution of rhythmic output production. The capability of cockroaches being able to gait at rapid speeds has influenced and driven studies to design robots whose structure is based upon the biomechanics of their six-legged configuration (Soyguder et al. 2007). Six-legged robots structures have mostly been based around the cockroach leg gait (Soyguder et al., 2007).
Cockroaches, belonging to the order Blattodea (Britton, 2012), apply high forces while exhibiting the tripod gait, walking up to very fast speeds. Most insects require a sensory response from the substrate they are standing on before taking another step but cockroaches have adapted to move up to long distances without any need of sensory feedback from the sense organs on their appendages. The sensory input/ feedback is too slow in relation to the cockroaches pace of speed. This can have an advantage and disadvantage to the insect in a way that it can productively move at fast speeds and turn quick corners from predators or for prey capture, but it can deleteriously impact the insect due to the fact that sensory feedback is too slow at fast speeds and will therefore disable the contribution of rhythmic output production. The capability of cockroaches being able to gait at rapid speeds has influenced and driven studies to design robots whose structure is based upon the biomechanics of their six-legged configuration (Soyguder et al. 2007). Six-legged robots structures have mostly been based around the cockroach leg gait (Soyguder et al., 2007).