Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Planar Rigid-Body Motion

Planar Rigid-Body Motion

Understanding the movement of a rigid body in planar motion involves recognizing that every particle within this body is traversing a path that maintains a consistent distance from a specific plane. This concept is fundamental in the study of physics and mechanical engineering, and it allows us to comprehend better how objects move in space.
Planar motion is typically divided into three distinct categories. The first is rectilinear translation, demonstrated by a subway train that moves along...

Relative Motion Analysis - Acceleration

Relative Motion Analysis - Acceleration

A slider-crank mechanism converts rotational motion from the crank into linear motion of the slider or vice versa. This mechanism consists of three main parts: the crank, the connecting rod, and the slider. The movement of the slider-crank is an example of general plane motion as the fluctuating angle between the crank and the connecting rod. Consider a segment AB where point A is at the end of the slider and point B is on the diametrically opposite end to point A, on a crack. The variance in...

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II

A rigid body is in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system are equal to zero.
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I

Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I

A rigid body is said to be in static equilibrium when the net force and the net torque acting on the system is equal to zero. To solve for rigid body equilibrium problems, do the following steps.

Absolute Motion Analysis- General Plane Motion

Absolute Motion Analysis- General Plane Motion

Visualize a drone, with its propellers spinning rapidly, hovering mid-air. The fascinating movements and operations of this drone can be comprehended by applying the principle of general plane motion.
As the drone's propellers rotate, an upward force is generated that counteracts the force of gravity, enabling the drone to lift off from the ground. This initial movement of the drone is along a straight path, representing a form of translational motion. In this phase, every point on the...

Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies

Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies

In fluid mechanics, buoyancy and stability are key concepts for understanding the behavior of submerged and floating bodies. When a stationary body is fully or partially submerged in a fluid, the fluid exerts a force on the body known as the buoyant force. This force acts vertically upward through a point called the center of buoyancy, which is the center of the displaced fluid volume. According to Archimedes' principle, the magnitude of the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Geometry of the vapor layer under a Leidenfrost hydrogel sphere.

Physical review. E·2026

Same author

Measurement-induced phase transitions in informational active matter.

PNAS nexus·2026

Same author

The fourfold way to rupture in active solids.

Nature materials·2026

Same author

Learning functional groups in complex microbiomes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Nonreciprocal buckling makes active filaments polyfunctional.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Twisted optical fibres as photonic topological insulators.

Nature photonics·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2025

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Published on: April 11, 2018

Adaptive locomotion of active solids.

Jonas Veenstra¹, Colin Scheibner^2,3, Martin Brandenbourger^1,4

¹Institute of Physics, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

|March 13, 2025

Summary

Engineered active solids with unique elasticity enable adaptive locomotion, mimicking biological systems and outperforming complex control strategies. These materials offer a novel approach to autonomous movement in challenging environments.

More Related Videos

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion

Published on: April 11, 2018

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Robotics
Nonlinear Dynamics

Background:

Active systems with microscopic constituents can create autonomous functional materials.
Generating useful mechanical work from these energy sources has been a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer active solids capable of adaptive locomotion.
To explore the unique elastic properties and emergent behaviors of these active materials.

Main Methods:

Development of centimeter-scale active solids with non-variational elasticity (odd moduli).
Prediction of elastic moduli using coarse-grained theories and experimental validation.
Analysis of spontaneous shape changes and locomotion through environmental interaction.

Main Results:

Active solids exhibit limit cycles of shape changes leading to rolling and crawling locomotion.
Locomotion is robust due to an emergent feedback loop between the material and its environment.
Performance rivals complex control strategies like neural networks in acceleration and gait adjustment.

Conclusions:

Active solids serve as a bridge between materials science and robotics.
Decentralized strategies can control nonlinear dynamics in biological systems, soft materials, and nanomechanical devices.
This work paves the way for novel autonomous functional materials.