Expérimental
Many living species thrive in granular environments, such as sand. Navigating through these granular terrains poses significant challenges, as these materials are heterogeneous, highly dissipative, and exhibit complex mechanical responses. As a result, animals serve as a remarkable source of bioinspiration for developing efficient strategies to move in such environments. At the FAST laboratory, we experimentally investigate the various strategies employed by animals to traverse sandy substrates, assessing their effectiveness and robustness. To this end, we develop bio-inspired robots and active systems, studying their behavior within a model granular environment. The goal of these experiments is to understand the underlying physics governing the interactions between moving objects and granular materials. If you are interested in animal locomotion, the mechanics of granular materials, or robot design and control, please contact us.