Research pathways from tensegrity-related biological structures to tensegrity robots: a bibliometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Robotics
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Tensegrity structures, based on continuous tension and discontinuous compression, offer unique self-stabilizing properties.
• Bioinspiration leverages natural principles for novel engineering solutions, with tensegrity structures showing compatibility with biological architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic bibliometric review of the tensegrity field over 35 years.
• To analyze the evolution of research hotspots, identify key sub-fields (biotensegrity and tensegrity robots), and outline future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 35 years of publications from the Web of Science database.
• Analysis of publication trends, author contributions, research areas, journals, and keyword co-occurrence.
• Examination of research keyword evolution and timeline of research hotspots.

Main Results:

• Tensegrity research has evolved from biological applications to theoretical refinement and advanced tensegrity robots.
• Tensegrity robots represent the most prominent sub-field, with increasing publication share.
• Challenges in dynamic modeling, control, and structural optimization persist for tensegrity robots.

Conclusions:

• Future tensegrity research should focus on improved theoretical models and specialized models for bio-inspired prototypes.
• Integration with advanced control methodologies is crucial for addressing current challenges in tensegrity robots.
• The field's maturation is evident in its progressive development and expansion into new research frontiers.