Neuromechanical principles define the properties and problems that shape neural solutions
for movement. Although the theoretical and experimental evidence is debated, we present …

Discovery of fundamental principles which govern and limit effective locomotion (self-
propulsion) is of intellectual interest and practical importance. Human technology has …

Inspired by the relatively simple morphological blueprint provided by batoid fish such as
stingrays and skates, we created a biohybrid system that enables an artificial animal—a …

Despite the great advancement in designing diverse soft robots, they are not yet as
dexterous as animals in many aspects. One challenge is that they still lack the compact …

Recent research suggests that the nervous system controls muscles by activating flexible
combinations of muscle synergies to produce a wide repertoire of movements. Muscle …

Animal locomotion is the result of complex and multi-layered interactions between the
nervous system, the musculo-skeletal system and the environment. Decoding the underlying …

Interactions between cervical and lumbar spinal circuits are mediated by long propriospinal
neurons (LPNs). Ablation of descending LPNs in mice disturbs left-right coordination at high …

Neuronal networks within the spinal cord directly control rhythmic movements of the
arms/forelimbs and legs/hindlimbs during locomotion in mammals. For an effective …

Interest in emulating the properties of biological muscles that allow for fast adaptability and
control in unstructured environments has motivated researchers to develop new soft …

Hill-type muscle models are highly preferred as phenomenological models for
musculoskeletal simulation studies despite their introduction almost a century ago. The use …