Miniature soft robots are mobile devices, which are made of smart materials that can be
actuated by external stimuli to realize their desired functionalities. Here, the key …

The study of spatial cognition has provided considerable insight into how animals (including
humans) navigate on the horizontal plane. However, the real world is three-dimensional …

In order to better understand the strategies of locomotion in small insects, we have studied
continuous level locomotion of the wood ant species Formica polyctena. We determined the …

Animals that travel large distances in search of food need to be equipped with navigation
systems that are capable of kee** track of the distance and direction of travel throughout …

Many insects navigate by integrating the distances and directions travelled on an outward
path, allowing direct return to the starting point. Fundamental to the reliability of this process …

The diurnal thermophilic Saharan silver ant, Cataglyphis bombycina, is the fastest of the
North African Cataglyphis desert ant species. These highly mobile ants endure the extreme …

The advantageous versatility of hexapod robots is often accompanied by high power
consumption, while animals have evolved an energy efficient locomotion. However, there …

Path integration, although inherently error-prone, is a common navigation strategy in
animals, particularly where environmental orientation cues are rare. The desert ant …

Terrestrial locomotor behavior in variable environments requires resilience to sudden
changes in substrate properties. For example, walking animals can adjust to substantial …

Walking behavior is context-dependent, resulting from the integration of internal and
external influences by specialized motor and pre-motor centers. Neuronal programs must be …