This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Bläsing, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Crossing Large Gaps: A Simulation Study of Stick Insect Behavior

Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld

The motor behavior of stick insects climbing over large gaps has already been the subject of many experimental studies. The searching movement of the legs after stepping into the gap is analyzed in the first part of this study. Based on these and earlier biological results, a simulation study is carried out using WALKNET, a neural network model of the stick insect walking system. Five new modules are implemented into the model in the form of a unit assembly system. The performance of the enhanced model is evaluated in a series of tests designed based on previous biological experiments. The simu lation study shows that with only four new modules (for searching movements, velocity control, a load effect and short steps), the performance of the model in a simulated gap crossing situation can be improved beyond the performance of the biological system under comparable conditions.

Key Words: stick insect locomotion • gap crossing behavior • searching movements • neural network model • simulation study • Aretaon asperrimus

Adaptive Behavior, Vol. 14, No. 3, 265-285 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/105971230601400307


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?