1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
[O07-P15] Putting legs on snake swimming robot going to be useless?Seeking truth of Tetrapodophis
Keywords:Tetrapodophis, Imagine a creature from a fossil and reproduce as robot, Restore
Our team heard a new way to research ancient creatures called Robokaseki. Our research target is Tetorpodophis. Tetoraodophis is a snake-shaped creature, which lived 110 to 120 millions years ago. We are building a robot that moves like Tetoraodophis as robot and studying about how legs has been used. Ancient creatures are in the course of evolution, so their movement is considered to be simple and efficient. In the study of Tetrapodophis, we think we can elucidate the movement and ecology.
One of the most important studies in palaeontology is creatures evolution. Fossil is the only evidence that shows a real evolution pattern. On the other hand, fossil has only small information. Then, imitating movement of the robot can help predict the soft tissue and their movement and speed. Collecting data of robots speed and movement can be useful.Therefore, it is possible to predict their abilities and this will help to study creatures evolution.
There are several hypotheses of the roles of Tetrapodophis’s legs. To catch prey or copulation partner, to swim and paddle. However there is no conclusion of theirs legs.
There are several theories about the role of legs that have been found in the literature on Tetrapodophis. The first theory is that the legs were used to hunt prey or mate with partners during life on land. The second theory is that they were used for swimming in the form of paddles during life in the water. Therefore, no conclusions have been drawn as to how the legs of Tetrapodophis were used.
Tetorapodophis which has found is 20cm long and their limbs are 1.5cm long. Fossil shows that hind legs are supported by strong bones than forefoot, so it is considered that hind legs are more used than forefoot. Limbs have something like finger, and that can be considered as they had same size or bigger than palm wedding.
To study more about Tetorapodophis’s legs, in experiment we made a snake-shaped under water robot by reference to Tetorapodophis fossil. As a result, it is easy to change direction with forefeet and a way of swimming can be stabilized by using hind legs. Forefeet are too small to produce propulsive effect, but it can make instantaneous power, so it can be said that they have great effect on hind legs.
Also, moving hind legs and tail can stabilize robot and more propulsive. For those reasons putting legs on a snake-shaped underwater robot is making sense.
There are three issues that we would like to solve in the future. The first is to make the snake- shaped robot behave more like a real living thing. Our robot cannot dive or surface. If our robot become able to dive and surface, we would find more ways to use their legs and investigate its usefulness.
The second is to identify the habitat. The stratum where the fossil was found is thought to have been a shallow inland sea. Therefore, we expect that it was an aquatic organism. In order to prove this, we are going to investigate whether the robot can walk on land or not. And that will reveal whether it could have been active on land or not.
The third is to prove the reconstructions. If a robot cannot swim or moves in a way that does not fit the expected living environment, it is not a correct reproduction. Therefore, we believe that the shape of the robot with reasonable movements will prove the reconstructions.
We hope that this study will solve these three issues and that the use of robots in the study of palaeontology will become widespread.
There are several theories about the role of legs that have been found in the literature on Tetrapodophis. The first theory is that the legs were used to hunt prey or mate with partners during life on land. The second theory is that they were used for swimming in the form of paddles during life in the water. Therefore, no conclusions have been drawn as to how the legs of Tetrapodophis were used.
One of the most important studies in palaeontology is creatures evolution. Fossil is the only evidence that shows a real evolution pattern. On the other hand, fossil has only small information. Then, imitating movement of the robot can help predict the soft tissue and their movement and speed. Collecting data of robots speed and movement can be useful.Therefore, it is possible to predict their abilities and this will help to study creatures evolution.
There are several hypotheses of the roles of Tetrapodophis’s legs. To catch prey or copulation partner, to swim and paddle. However there is no conclusion of theirs legs.
There are several theories about the role of legs that have been found in the literature on Tetrapodophis. The first theory is that the legs were used to hunt prey or mate with partners during life on land. The second theory is that they were used for swimming in the form of paddles during life in the water. Therefore, no conclusions have been drawn as to how the legs of Tetrapodophis were used.
Tetorapodophis which has found is 20cm long and their limbs are 1.5cm long. Fossil shows that hind legs are supported by strong bones than forefoot, so it is considered that hind legs are more used than forefoot. Limbs have something like finger, and that can be considered as they had same size or bigger than palm wedding.
To study more about Tetorapodophis’s legs, in experiment we made a snake-shaped under water robot by reference to Tetorapodophis fossil. As a result, it is easy to change direction with forefeet and a way of swimming can be stabilized by using hind legs. Forefeet are too small to produce propulsive effect, but it can make instantaneous power, so it can be said that they have great effect on hind legs.
Also, moving hind legs and tail can stabilize robot and more propulsive. For those reasons putting legs on a snake-shaped underwater robot is making sense.
There are three issues that we would like to solve in the future. The first is to make the snake- shaped robot behave more like a real living thing. Our robot cannot dive or surface. If our robot become able to dive and surface, we would find more ways to use their legs and investigate its usefulness.
The second is to identify the habitat. The stratum where the fossil was found is thought to have been a shallow inland sea. Therefore, we expect that it was an aquatic organism. In order to prove this, we are going to investigate whether the robot can walk on land or not. And that will reveal whether it could have been active on land or not.
The third is to prove the reconstructions. If a robot cannot swim or moves in a way that does not fit the expected living environment, it is not a correct reproduction. Therefore, we believe that the shape of the robot with reasonable movements will prove the reconstructions.
We hope that this study will solve these three issues and that the use of robots in the study of palaeontology will become widespread.
There are several theories about the role of legs that have been found in the literature on Tetrapodophis. The first theory is that the legs were used to hunt prey or mate with partners during life on land. The second theory is that they were used for swimming in the form of paddles during life in the water. Therefore, no conclusions have been drawn as to how the legs of Tetrapodophis were used.