[Kinematics of crawling locomotion. I. Ideal elastic model]

One-dimensional model of polysegmental ideal-elastic body is considered, movements of which in the free state are described by wave equation. Regimes of creeping without the loss of initial energy are examined, when the moments of attachment of the segment boundaries to the substrate are synchroneous with instantaneous stopping of free oscillations. Possibility of the existence of two coordination patterns--unconcerted and concerted metachrony is shown. In the last case velocity of the metachronal wave is equal to velocity of an elastic wave, which propagates along segments in the result of attachments or deattachments of boundaries.