Microscopic locomotion modeling and the role of compression-flexure coupling

Clément Moreau (IMT Atlantique / LS2N) from structuring research action AS4 will present a webinar on microscopic locomotion modeling and the role of compression-flexure coupling.

This presentation in pairs will address the modeling of microscopic locomotion, at the interface between bio-inspired robotics and life sciences. At this scale, organisms primarily move using flexible, slender structures (flagella), exploiting characteristic non-reciprocal deformations.

By relying on models with a minimal number of degrees of freedom and control theory tools, it is possible to understand the fundamental principles of micro-locomotion and optimize swimming cycles.

This presentation will showcase recent work that challenges a central hypothesis: the inextensibility of flagella. Their compressibility, long neglected, could indeed be combined with bending to improve propulsion strategies, offering trails for the design of artificial micro-locomotors.