The Geometric Mechanics of Undulatory Robotic Locomotion

Abstract

This paper uses geometric methods to study basic problems in the mechanics and control of locomotion. We consider in detail the case of "undulatory locomotion" in which net motion is generated by coupling internal shape changes with external nonholonomic con straints. Such locomotion problems have a natural geometric inter pretation as a connection on a principal fiber bundle. The properties of connections lead to simplified results for studying both dynamics and issues of controllability for locomotion systems. We demonstrate the utility of this approach using a novel "snakeboard" and a mul tisegmented serpentine robot that is modeled after Hirose's active cord mechanism.