Worm-like locomotion at small scales induced by propagating a series of extensive or contraction waves has exhibited enormous possibilities in reproducing artificial mobile soft robotics. However, the optimal relation between locomotion performance and some important parameters, such as the distance between two adjacent waves, wave width, and body length, is still not clear. To solve this problem, this paper studies the optimal problem of a worm’s motion induced by two peristalsis waves in a viscous medium. Inspired by a worm’s motion, we consider that its body consists of two segments which can perform the respective shape change. Next, a quasi-static model describing the worm-like locomotion is used to investigate the relationship between its average velocity over the period and these parameters. Through the analysis of the relationship among these parameters, we find that there exist four different cases which should be addressed. Correspondingly, the average velocity in each case can be approximately derived. After that, optimization is carried out on each case to maximize the average velocity according to the Kuhn–Tucker Conditions. As a result, the optimal conditions of all of the cases are obtained. Finally, numerical and experimental verifications are carried out to demonstrate the correctness of the obtained results.
This paper is concerned with the vibration-driven system which can move due to the periodic motion of the internal mass and the dry friction; the system can be modeled as Filippov system and has the property of stick-slip motion. Different periodic solutions of stick-slip motion can be analyzed through sliding bifurcation, two-parameter numerical continuation for sliding bifurcation is carried out to get the different bifurcation curves, and the bifurcation curves divide the parameters plane into different regions which stand for different stick-slip motion of the periodic solution. Furthermore, continuations with additional condition v=0 are carried out for the directional control of the vibration-driven system in one period; the curves divide the parameter plane into different progressions.
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