TY - JOUR
T1 - Spider dynamics under vertical vibration and its implications for biological vibration sensing
AU - Wu, Jun
AU - Miller, Thomas E.
AU - Cicirello, Alice
AU - Mortimer, Beth
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Often overlooked, vibration transmission through the entire body of an animal is an important factor in understanding vibration sensing in animals. To investigate the role of dynamic properties and vibration transmission through the body, we used a modal test and lumped parameter modelling for a spider. The modal test used laser vibrometry data on a tarantula, and revealed five modes of the spider in the frequency range of 20-200 Hz. Our developed and calibrated model took into account the bounce, pitch and roll of the spider body and bounce of all the eight legs. We then performed a parametric study using this calibrated model, varying factors such as mass, inertia, leg stiffness, damping, angle and span to study what effect they had on vibration transmission. The results support that some biomechanical parameters can act as physical constraints on vibration sensing. But also, that the spider may actively control some biomechanical parameters to change the signal intensity it can sense. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the parameter changes in front and back legs have a greater influence on whole system dynamics, so may be of particular importance for active control mechanisms to facilitate biological sensing functions.
AB - Often overlooked, vibration transmission through the entire body of an animal is an important factor in understanding vibration sensing in animals. To investigate the role of dynamic properties and vibration transmission through the body, we used a modal test and lumped parameter modelling for a spider. The modal test used laser vibrometry data on a tarantula, and revealed five modes of the spider in the frequency range of 20-200 Hz. Our developed and calibrated model took into account the bounce, pitch and roll of the spider body and bounce of all the eight legs. We then performed a parametric study using this calibrated model, varying factors such as mass, inertia, leg stiffness, damping, angle and span to study what effect they had on vibration transmission. The results support that some biomechanical parameters can act as physical constraints on vibration sensing. But also, that the spider may actively control some biomechanical parameters to change the signal intensity it can sense. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the parameter changes in front and back legs have a greater influence on whole system dynamics, so may be of particular importance for active control mechanisms to facilitate biological sensing functions.
KW - dynamics
KW - modal test
KW - modelling
KW - spiders
KW - vibration sensing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171119788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rsif.2023.0365
DO - 10.1098/rsif.2023.0365
M3 - Article
C2 - 37700709
AN - SCOPUS:85171119788
SN - 1742-5689
VL - 20
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
JF - Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
IS - 206
M1 - 20230365
ER -