A research team from Empa and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems has investigated the previously little-understood locomotion of scaly-tailed squirrels. Native to the rainforests of West Africa, these animals use scale-like structures on the underside of their tails to grip smooth tree bark. Through a combination of analytical calculations and physical models, the researchers demonstrated how these subcaudal scales provide stability and traction—an insight with implications for the development of robots and 3D-printed gripping systems.
The study relied on high-resolution 3D scans of museum specimens, which were used to reconstruct the shape and arrangement of the scales. Physical models were then created using 3D-printed replicas to simulate movement patterns and gripping mechanisms. This combination of additive manufacturing and biomechanical analysis allows structural principles from nature to be transferred into technical systems.
“Animal locomotion in irregular terrain is complex. Simulations alone aren’t sufficient to understand it,” explains Ardian Jusufi, who is heading the Soft Kinetic research group at Empa. “That’s why we develop moving physical models for experimental validation.”
The findings could be applied in robotics, for example in the construction of small, autonomous systems designed to navigate unstructured environments like tree canopies or rubble fields.
“Since injury has been observed in arboreal specialists, we know that unexpected events and locomotion failure can occur,” says Jusufi. “If a squirrel approaches a tree but suddenly notices a predator, it must swiftly redirect to another tree mid-flight. We suspect the scaly tail helps absorb the energy of such emergency landings, preventing falls.”
“Animal locomotion involves a complex interplay of processes, many of which are poorly understood,” Jusufi notes. “Particularly, the role of the tail remains understudied in many species and locomotor modes.”
Going forward, the artificial models will be further refined and paired with field observations to better understand the biomechanical interactions involved in landing.
The study illustrates how detailed biomechanical analysis and 3D printing can work hand in hand to translate insights from nature into technical applications—a step toward more robust, adaptive robotic systems.
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